A recent study showed that performing intense exercise for one minute at a time, repeated throughout the day, may help people with type 2 diabetes limit blood sugar spikes after meals.
The news site "Times Now" reported on Wednesday that the study was published in the scientific journal "Diabetologia" and conducted by researchers from McMaster University and the University of British Columbia. It involved 31 adults with type 2 diabetes, aiming to evaluate the impact of short periods of physical activity on their blood sugar levels.
Researchers asked participants to perform four daily sessions of intense exercise, each lasting one minute, over two consecutive days, while continuously monitoring their blood sugar levels. The results showed that these exercises helped limit blood sugar spikes after breakfast and dinner, compared to days when participants did not engage in any physical activity.
This method is known as "exercise snacking" and relies on distributing short periods of movement throughout the day, such as climbing stairs quickly, performing squats, jogging in place, or repeatedly standing up and sitting down. Researchers explained that muscle contraction and activity help absorb glucose from the blood and use it to produce energy, which may contribute to limiting blood sugar spikes after meals.
Researchers noted that the study results are still preliminary, due to the limited number of participants and the short duration of the experiment, which was limited to two days. Furthermore, the reduction in average blood sugar levels was not statistically significant, necessitating broader studies to confirm the results and evaluate the long-term effects of these exercises.
The study highlights the importance of incorporating physical activity into daily life details, even through short periods of movement, while emphasizing that it does not replace prescribed treatment or adherence to health guidelines, including regular exercise and a balanced diet to help control blood sugar levels and reduce disease complications.
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by elevated blood sugar levels due to the body's weak response to insulin or insufficient production of it.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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