Exercise

New studies now suggest that people with diabetes should mix aerobics with weight training in order to lower their blood sugar. Not only that, but it’s also good for weight loss.

Aerobic exercise uses blood sugar to fuel muscles, and therefore, more sugar is burned during the activity. During weight training, muscles are built-up. Performing both enhances the process by changing muscle proteins.

The study tested three different exercise programs in order to find one that doctors could recommend to patients. During it, they compared  weight training, aerobics, and then the combination of both. U.S. guidelines now recommend that adults use a combination of both.

The study took a little over nine months for patients to achieve the results. They exercised three days a week, at forty-five minutes a session.

This is good news for everyone. As Laurie Goodyear said, from the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, “People can manage this amount of exercise.” It’s only three days a week of activity, people can find time to fit it into their schedule.

For the aerobics portion, patients walked on a treadmill. Every two minutes, the uphill grade was raised by two percent. The weight training portion had patients use machines that worked their upper body and legs. As time passed, more weight was added as their strength began to increase.

Researchers in the study found that the only test group that lowered their blood sugar, as well as lose weight, was the group that combined aerobics and weight. It’s a great way to get healthy.