An article in Everyday Health draws from the expertise of Professor Michael Riddell in the School of Kinesiology and Health Science to highlight the importance of exercising to keep your blood sugar stable. Dr. Riddell studies the effects of exercise and stress on diabetes and metabolism. Riddell states, “You can burn up to 1 gram (g) of carbohydrates per kilogram (kg) of body weight per minute, so in an hour, you could burn 60 g of carbs from blood sugar.”
Incorporating regular exercise into your daily routine keeps insulin levels stable and helps regulate them around mealtimes. “Your insulin needs drop, so you don’t need as much around meals, between meals, or overnight." Dr. Riddell points out the risks of not exercising. "When you’re sedentary, glucose builds up in the bloodstream and eventually turns to fat. Getting up and moving is really good for moderating and lowering blood sugar.” He reminds us that if you have diabetes, it’s especially important to avoid going more than two consecutive days without exercise, and spreading your physical activity relatively evenly throughout the week, which provides more consistent blood sugar benefits.
