The degree to which diabetics' blood sugar levels drop in response to physical activity depends on the type of exercise they do and whether they're male or female, according to a new study. The findings provide a useful guide for diabetics who want to exercise but are wary of hypoglycemia.
We all know how good exercise is for our health. However, for people with type 1 diabetes who must take insulin because their body doesn't produce enough insulin or no insulin, exercise can cause blood sugar levels to drop too low (known as hypoglycemia). There is a gender. Low blood pressure, which is accompanied by symptoms such as sweating, trembling, irritability, palpitations, and dizziness, is not only uncomfortable. It is life-threatening if not treated immediately. Therefore, it is not surprising that some diabetics stop exercising to avoid the risk of hypotension.
In a new study led by the Federal University of San Francisco Valley in Brazil in collaboration with Staffordshire University in the UK, researchers investigated which types of exercise cause the greatest reduction in blood sugar levels in people with type 1 diabetes.
Dr Pooya Soltani from Staffordshire University, one of the study's co-authors, said: “This research is important because people with diabetes often lack the motivation to exercise as a means of managing their symptoms.” . “One reason for this is that physical activity lowers blood sugar levels, which can cause discomfort and decreased motivation. I investigated.”
Nineteen volunteers with type 1 diabetes, 10 of whom were women, participated in 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on a treadmill. The researchers tested the effects of interval and continuous exercise by measuring participants' heart rates, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels before, after, and 20 minutes after each session. The researchers also had participants report their perceived exercise rate and level of enjoyment after each session.
Cardiovascular responses, rate of perceived exertion, and level of enjoyment were similar across sessions and genders, but the researchers observed gender-based differences in blood sugar levels between male and female participants. did.
The men showed lower blood sugar levels immediately and 20 minutes after continuous aerobic exercise, and immediately after interval exercise. In contrast, women showed a decrease in blood glucose levels only after sustained exercise compared to pre-exercise blood glucose levels at both time points. The decrease in blood glucose levels at both time points was higher in men after continuous exercise than after interval exercise. Overall, a decrease in blood sugar levels was observed after sustained aerobic exercise, with greater decreases observed in men.
The results of this study demonstrate that it is important to consider gender differences when prescribing exercise to patients with type 1 diabetes to avoid the risk of hypoglycemic episodes.
“Our study showed that for male patients, interval exercise, such as short walks, is preferable when starting with low blood sugar levels,” said corresponding author San Francisco Valley Federal University's said Dr. Jorge Luis de Brito-Gomez. of research. “Conversely, continuous exercise, such as running, is suitable for people with high initial blood sugar levels. These approaches can help prevent blood sugar levels from dropping too quickly.
“For female patients, both interval exercise and continuous aerobic exercise appear to be effective starting points,” continued Dr. de Brito-Gomez. “We hope these findings indicate that gender-specific recommendations should be considered when prescribing aerobic exercise, especially for men with irregular physical activity levels.”
This research Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
sauce: Staffordshire University