- In a new study, researchers from the University of Granada monitored a group of people to see if the timing of physical activity could impact glucose (sugar) metabolism.
- It is important for people with type 2 diabetes to maintain stable blood sugar or blood sugar levels to prevent high blood sugar or high blood sugar.
- The group of people suffered from either overweight or obesity, as well as a metabolic deficit.
- The study results indicated that physical activity in the evening may be more beneficial for achieving stable blood sugar levels.
Being overweight or obese can contribute to many health problems, including the development of insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes.
Once a person develops diabetes, they need to carefully monitor their blood sugar levels throughout the day to make sure they are neither too high nor too low.
Researchers at the University of Granada, Spain, recently studied the role of timing of moderate to vigorous physical activity on glucose metabolism.
They found an association between being more active later in the day and more stable blood sugar levels over a 24-hour period.
The study appears in the journal
Insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes affect millions of people.
According to
Doctors may prescribe medications such as metformin to control type 2 diabetes, and they may also recommend diet and exercise to help control blood sugar levels.
With the exercise component in mind, the researchers who conducted the current study wanted to expand on existing research.
“It has been well established that moderate to vigorous physical activity improves glucose homeostasis in overweight/obese adults who are at higher risk of developing insulin resistance,” the authors note.
Researchers conducted a study using data from the EXTREME trial to see if the timing of moderate to vigorous physical activity had an impact on blood sugar stability.
They observed a group of 186 adults, divided equally between men and women, with an average age of 46.8 years. The group’s average body mass index (BMI) was 32.9, according to the CDC.
Participants wore a device to track physical activity and a continuous glucose monitoring device to track glucose levels for 14 days.
After reviewing participant data, the researchers ranked each day based on the following factors:
- inactive – no moderate to vigorous physical activity
- morning — at least 50% of activity (moderate to vigorous) occurred between 6:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.
- afternoon — at least 50% of activity occurred between 12:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
- evening — at least 50% of activity occurred between 6:00 p.m. and midnight
- mixed – participants did not have a period in which at least 50% of their moderate to vigorous physical activity occurred.
The scientists simultaneously monitored each participant’s glucose levels and mapped the readings to physical activity data.
Study participants engaged in an average of 24 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day.
The researchers first noted that their results strengthened the established link between moderate to vigorous physical activity and stabilized glucose metabolism.
Participants’ average 24-hour blood sugar levels were about 1 milligram per deciliter (mg/dL) lower on fairly active days, and about 1.5 mg/dL lower on very active days compared to inactive days.
By examining whether the timing of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity impacted glucose levels, scientists found an association between engaging in physical activity in the evening and lower blood sugar levels.
The average 24-hour blood glucose value for participants who completed moderate to vigorous physical activity during the evening was 1.28 mg/dL lower than that of inactive participants.
Those who performed most of their moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in the morning or whose activity was spread throughout the day did not show statistically different glucose levels compared to inactive participants.
For the afternoon group, participants experienced a reduction of 0.98 mg/dL.
“The present study shows that the timing of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in lifestyle is significant and that the accumulation of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity during the evening is associated with lower glucose levels in adults with overweight/obesity and metabolic deficiencies.” write the authors.
Additionally, the researchers found that this association in participants with impaired glucose regulation was even “stronger.”
Another promising finding is that the results were consistent in both women and men.
Although more studies are needed to explore this, this association could help give people with type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance an idea of how to maximize the benefits of their physical activity.
Robert McLaughlin, MD, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon based in Boston, not involved in this research, spoke with Medical news today on its conclusions.
“This study provides valuable information on the timing of exercise and its impacts on glucose regulation, shedding light on an often overlooked aspect,” McLaughlin said.
He noted that the results were “surprising, but intriguing,” adding that:
“Although we generally understand the benefits of exercise on glucose metabolism, the idea that timing can enhance these effects adds a new dimension to exercise prescription. This could lead to more effective management strategies for metabolic disorders.
However, McLaughlin was quick to warn people not to abandon exercise at other times of the day.
“It is critical that the public understands that these findings should not discourage morning exercise, which still provides important health benefits,” McLaughlin said. “The takeaway is that if you have the flexibility, incorporating evening workouts could provide additional metabolic benefits, particularly for those managing insulin resistance or diabetes.” »
Shiara Ortiz-Pujols, MD, MPH, who works in obesity medicine in the department of surgery at Staten Island University Hospital in New York, also spoke with MNT about the study. Like McLaughlin, she was not involved in this research.
“The study further confirmed that any physical activity that can be accumulated throughout the day is beneficial, with a more significant impact on glucose regulation if done in the evening,” Ortiz-Pujols said.
She also stressed the importance of engaging in physical activity as much as possible.
“Although it is best to exercise in the evening to (regulate glucose metabolism) in overweight/obese adults, schedules do not always allow it for everyone,” Ortiz-Pujols noted.
“The main goal is to engage in moderate to vigorous physical activity regularly,” Ortiz-Pujols commented. “Once we have a regular routine, we can then exercise in the evening to further optimize blood sugar regulation.”