Is walking good for type 2 diabetes?

 

Going for a walk after eating food can help reduce blood sugar levels, even if it's just for a few short minutes, new research shows.

Researchers analysed seven different studies to examine how light physical activity like standing and walking affects heart health, including insulin, and blood sugar level, compared to prolonged sitting Period.

The findings suggest that going for a light walk after taking food—even for as little as two to five minutes—can improve blood sugar levels, as compared to sitting or lying down after meals. Simply standing can also help lower blood sugar levels, but not to the same as walking. Not only walking helps people with type 2 diabetes increase their fitness levels, but it also helps control blood glucose levels and improves the body's ability to use insulin. There is a belief that walking just after lunch or dinner causes fatigue, stomach ache, and other types of discomfort. However, one had no such negative reactions, and found that walking just after eating food was more effective for weight loss than waiting one hour after eating before walking. In fact, the Diabetes Associations has gone on to say that 10 minutes of post-meals walking can improve blood glucose levels, as compared to other times during the day. If you practice walking daily after meals, your body can also lower the risk for insulin insensitivity. On average, walking dropped blood sugar by approximately one mg/dl per minute. The largest drop we absorb was 46 mg/dl in 20 minutes, more than two mg/dl per minute. Walking is also surprisingly effective in blood sugar dropped in 83% in tests.