Post Time: 2025-07-18
Blood sugar tests are a crucial tool for managing blood glucose levels. However, many people struggle to understand how their activity levels impact these readings. When it comes to exercise and blood sugar control, the relationship is complex and influenced by various factors.
The Impact of Physical Activity on Blood Sugar Levels Regular physical activity can have both positive and negative effects on blood sugar levels depending on several variables such as intensity, duration, and frequency. Research suggests that engaging in moderate-intensity aerobic exercises like brisk walking or cycling for at least 150 minutes per week can significantly improve insulin sensitivity (1). This improvement allows the body to more effectively utilize insulin and maintain healthy blood glucose levels.
Conversely, high-intensity exercise sessions may lead to short-term fluctuations in blood sugar. A study found that performing a single bout of intense resistance training led to significant post-exercise increases in both fasting and 2-hour postprandial (after meal) plasma glucose concentrations among young adults with normal glucose tolerance (2).
Understanding the Role of Insulin Resistance Insulin resistance, often associated with obesity and physical inactivity, is a critical factor that impacts blood sugar regulation. As body fat stores increase so does insulin resistance making it more difficult for cells to take up glucose from the bloodstream leading elevated fasting blood sugar levels.
While regular exercise has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity even mild increases in BMI have an inverse relationship with this improvement suggesting individuals who need it most are less likely experience benefits without intervention.
In this podcast episode, we chat with Carmelita Lombera, a UC Berkeley graduate and Diabetes Digital Dietitian with a diverse career in health coaching and low carb diet blood sugar nutrition. Carmelita addresses a common question we receive: treatment for blood sugar high is the sugar in fruit bad for people with diabetes? We'll dive into the difference between natural sugars found in fruits and the added sugars. We'll stress how important it is to understand terms like Glycemic Index (GI) and Glycemic what is an adults normal blood sugar level Load (GL) to manage blood sugar levels effectively. Plus, we'll highlight the benefits of choosing whole fruits over fruit juice. By the end of our episode, you'll pick up some useful tips for including fruits in your diabetes management plan. Tune in for expert advice on portion sizes, exploring the best times to eat fruits, and the best ways to combine fruit with protein or healthy fats for better blood sugar management. Website: IG: @diabetesdigitalco@diabetesdigitalco #diabetes #diabetesdietitian #diabetesnutritionist #certifieddiabeteseducator #rd #rdn #cdces #diabetesdigital #nutritionfordiabetes #diabetesnutrition#type1diabetes #type2diabetes #prediabetes #prediabetesnutrition #prediabetesnutritionist #prediabetesdietitian #impairedfastingglucose #T1DM #diabetestok #prediabetestok #t2DM #sugar #fruit #diabetesfoods #fruitfacts