ISLAMABAD: Approximately 530 million adults worldwide are affected by diabetes, with 98% of these cases classified as type 2 diabetes. Insulin sensitivity and insulin resistance are defining characteristics of type 2 diabetes. Previous research indicates that there are natural methods to enhance a person’s insulin sensitivity, including physical activity.
Researchers from the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Italy have discovered that even a single 30-minute exercise session can help reduce blood sugar levels and enhance insulin sensitivity, showcasing potential advantages in preventing and managing type 2 diabetes. They estimate that around 537 million adults globally currently have diabetes, with 98% being type 2 diabetes cases.Healthy Competition and Market Repair Key to Industry Growth.Aamir Ibrahim
Type 2 diabetes is a long-term condition where the body cannot effectively utilize insulin, which is referred to as low insulin sensitivity. This can eventually lead to insulin resistance, causing elevated blood sugar levels. Prior studies indicate that there are natural ways to improve insulin sensitivity, such as maintaining a healthy diet, controlling weight, and engaging in physical exercise.
Now, researchers from the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Italy have found that just one 30-minute exercise session can lower blood sugar levels and enhance insulin sensitivity, revealing potential positive effects for both the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes. This study has been published recently in the Journal of Endocrinological Investigation.
Why only 30 minutes of exercise?
For this study, researchers enlisted 32 participants—18 men and 14 women—aged between 20 and 35 years. All participants were healthy, showed no signs of diabetes, and were of normal or slightly elevated weight. Most were primarily sedentary or only lightly active during their leisure time.
After establishing baseline measurements for blood sugar levels and insulin concentrations, participants engaged in a single 30-minute aerobic exercise session of light jogging. “The decision to study a single 30-minute aerobic session in young, healthy adults was motivated by the lack of previous research examining the immediate metabolic effects of one-time exercise in this demographic,” explained Teresa Mezza, MD, PhD, a researcher in the Department of Medicine and Translational Surgery at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Italy and the corresponding author of this study.
“This method allows researchers to observe the immediate effects of exercise on glucose metabolism without the confounding factors of prior training or diabetic conditions, providing a clearer baseline for how exercise alone influences glucose and insulin dynamics,” she added.
Improvements in blood sugar and insulin sensitivity after 30 minutes of exercise
Mezza and her team re-evaluated the participants’ glucose and insulin levels 24 hours following the 30-minute exercise session. They observed a significant decrease in blood sugar levels and an increase in insulin sensitivity among the participants.
“This decrease in fasting glucose and insulin levels, combined with improved insulin sensitivity 24 hours post-exercise, underscores the potential of a single exercise session to trigger rapid and beneficial metabolic changes,” Mezza noted. “This implies that brief periods of aerobic activity could be crucial for glucose regulation and insulin response, potentially reducing diabetes risk in non-diabetic populations and providing immediate advantages in managing glucose levels for those at risk,” she suggested.
