Type 2 Diabetes - Exercise and Blood Sugar Levels!

There is little question today that exercise is very important for someone with Type 2 diabetes. By combining the effects of a change in diet with exercise, many people have been able to reverse their condition without the need for medication. Although the idea is to reverse the condition naturally, some people also have to take medication that has been prescribed to help control their blood sugar levels and even their weight until they're able to make the substantial lifestyle changes.

So how does blood sugar relate to exercise?

Exercise does several different things to help control Type 2 diabetes. For example, it improves the body's use of insulin and also helps to burn excess fat. By burning off excess fat, this helps to decrease and control the Type 2 diabetic's weight. Decreasing body fat actually helps the body use insulin better. Exercise also improves muscle strength as well as bone density. Exercise lowers blood pressure and helps to protect the heart and blood vessels against disease. It decreases LDL cholesterol while increasing HDL cholesterol, which is a good thing

Many Type 2 diabetics have a problem with blood circulation and have a higher risk of heart disease. Exercise improves circulation and reduces the risk of heart disease. It also increases energy level, reduces stress, helps to release tension and anxiety and promotes relaxation. Even for those who say they hate exercise, there is little question that it has far too many benefits to be ignored.

Typically, insulin is released from the pancreas when the amount of blood sugar increases. This typically happens after eating. Insulin stimulates the muscles and liver to take in the extra glucose which results in the lowering of the blood sugar level. When exercising, your body will need this extra energy for the muscles. When you are performing short bursts of exercise, the liver and muscles can release the glucose stores for fuel. As exercise continues in a moderate pace, the muscles take up the glucose at almost 20 times the normal rate which lowers blood sugar levels.

It is important to note that intense exercise can have the opposite effect on a Type 2 diabetic and actually increase the blood sugar levels. This is because the body recognizes intense exercise and stress and will release the stress hormones which tell the body to increase blood sugar in order to fuel the muscles. For a diabetic, this may result in the need to have a little bit of insulin after an intense workout.