- In a new study, researchers from the University of Granada monitored a group of people to see if the timing of physical activity affects glucose (sugar) metabolism.
- For people with type 2 diabetes, maintaining stable glucose or blood sugar levels is important to prevent hyperglycemia.
- This group of people were overweight or obese and also had metabolic disorders.
- The study results suggested that nighttime physical activity may be effective in stabilizing blood sugar levels.
Being overweight or obese can lead to many health problems, including insulin resistance and the development of type 2 diabetes.
If you have diabetes, you need to carefully monitor your blood sugar levels throughout the day to make sure they don't get too high or too low.
Researchers from the University of Granada in Spain recently investigated the role that the timing of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity plays in glucose metabolism.
They found a link between being most active later in the day and having more stable blood sugar levels throughout the 24 hours.
The study has been published in the journal
Insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes affect millions of people.
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Your doctor may prescribe medications such as metformin to control type 2 diabetes, or recommend diet and exercise to help control your blood sugar levels.
With the element of exercise in mind, the researchers who conducted the current study wanted to extend existing research.
“It is well established that moderate-to-vigorous exercise enhances blood glucose homeostasis in overweight/obese adults who are at high risk for developing insulin resistance,” the authors note.
Researchers conducted a study using data from the EXTREME trial to examine whether the timing of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity affects blood sugar stability.
They looked at a group of 186 adults, evenly split between men and women, with an average age of 46.8 years. The group's average BMI was 32.9, which the CDC puts at
Participants wore a device to track their physical activity and a continuous glucose monitoring device to track their blood sugar levels for 14 days.
After reviewing the participants' data, the researchers categorized each day based on the following factors:
- Inactivity — lack of moderate to vigorous physical activity
- Morning — at least 50% of activity (moderate to vigorous) occurred between 06:00 and 12:00
- Afternoon – At least 50% of activity occurred between 12:00 and 18:00
- Evening – At least 50% of activity occurred between 18:00 and 00:00
- Mixed — Participants did not engage in at least 50% of the time in moderate to vigorous physical activity.
The scientists simultaneously monitored each participant's blood sugar levels and mapped the measurements to their physical activity data.
Study participants engaged in an average of 24 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise per day.
The researchers first noted that their findings strengthen the established link between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and stable glucose metabolism.
Participants' 24-hour average blood glucose levels were about 1 milligram per deciliter (mg/dL) lower on days when they were somewhat more active than on days when they were less active, and about 1.5 mg/dL lower on days when they were very more active than on days when they were less active.
When investigating whether the timing of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity affects blood sugar levels, the scientists found an association between completing activity in the evening and lower blood sugar levels.
Participants who completed moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in the evening had 24-hour average blood glucose levels that were 1.28 mg/dL lower compared to measurements from inactive participants.
People who completed most of their moderate-to-vigorous exercise in the morning or who spread their exercise throughout the day showed no statistically different blood sugar levels compared to non-exercise participants.
In the afternoon group, participants experienced a decrease of 0.98 mg/dL.
“The current study demonstrates that the timing of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in lifestyle matters, and that accumulating the majority of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity during the evening hours is associated with lower blood glucose levels in adults with overweight/obesity and metabolic disorders,” the authors write.
Moreover, the researchers found that this association was even “stronger” in participants with impaired blood sugar regulation.
Another promising finding was that the results were consistent across both women and men.
Although more research is needed to examine this, the association could give people with type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance hints at how to maximize the benefits of physical activity.
Robert McLaughlin, MDA Boston-based board-certified orthopedic surgeon who was not involved in the study said: Today's Medical News Regarding the survey results.
“This study provides valuable insight into the timing of exercise and its impact on blood sugar regulation, shedding light on an often overlooked aspect,” McLaughlin said.
He called the results “surprising yet intriguing”, adding:
“It is generally understood that exercise has a positive effect on glucose metabolism, but the idea that these effects can be enhanced through timing adds a new dimension to exercise prescription, which may lead to more effective management strategies for metabolic disorders.”
However, McLoughlin was quick to warn against neglecting exercise at other times of the day.
“It's important for audiences to understand that these results shouldn't discourage morning exercise, which still provides significant health benefits,” McLaughlin emphasized. “The key takeaway is that, if you're flexible, incorporating evening exercise may provide additional metabolic benefits, especially for those managing insulin resistance and diabetes.”
Ciara Ortiz Pujols, MD, MPHA doctor in the Department of Surgery at Staten Island College Hospital in New York who specializes in obesity medicine also said, MNT About the study: Like McLaughlin, she was not involved in the research.
“This study further supports the idea that any physical activity accumulated throughout the day is beneficial, and that performing it in the evening has an even greater impact on blood sugar regulation,” Ortiz-Pujols said.
She also stressed the importance of engaging in some form of physical activity whenever possible.
“It may be better to exercise in the evening, [regulate glucose metabolism] “For overweight/obese adults, the schedule may not necessarily allow for everyone,” Ortiz Pujols noted.
“The main goal should be to engage in moderate-to-vigorous exercise on a regular basis,” Ortiz-Pujols said. “Once you've developed a habit of doing this regularly, you can aim to exercise in the evening to further optimize your blood sugar regulation.”
