Most people know that exercise is good for them. But for people with type 2 diabetes, exercise has some unique benefits, including the following:
Lowers Blood Sugar Levels
“Any time you move, your muscles contract. When that happens, special doors on the surface of your cells open and help move sugar out of the bloodstream and into cells for energy, even when your cells are resistant to insulin,” says Samantha McKinney, RD, registered dietitian, certified personal trainer, and national manager of nutrition and weight loss at Life Time in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.
Improves Insulin Sensitivity
Your pancreas naturally pumps out insulin — a hormone that regulates blood sugar. But, if you have type 2 diabetes, your body doesn’t respond to insulin as it should. Doctors call this insulin resistance. Physical activity, however, “improves your body’s sensitivity to insulin, which will help fight insulin resistance,” says Kimberly Gomer, RDN, a registered dietitian-nutrition in private practice in Florida.
Enhances Your Cardiovascular Health
Aids in Weight Management and May Aid in Weight Loss
Helps You Stick With Other Healthy Habits
Exercise releases feel-good endorphins, which can help you be more motivated — and mindful — of your day-to-day living with diabetes. “That can hold you personally accountable to other areas of your health,” says Akhil Shenoy, MD, endocrinologist and diabetes medical advisor at Aeroflow Diabetes in Houston. “For instance, regular exercise can help you avoid unhealthy eating choices.”
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