ESPWe usually think about food when we talk about blood sugar. But there’s another powerful tool for managing it: exercise.
That’s especially interesting in light of new research suggesting that high blood sugar may help cancer cells create a sugar-rich coating that makes them harder for the immune system to recognize. The research is still developing—and it does not mean sugar causes cancer—but it adds another reason to pay attention to healthy blood sugar.
Fortunately, exercise can help. When your muscles work, they use glucose for energy and can pull it from your bloodstream. Physical activity can also improve how effectively your body uses insulin.
Here are three easy ways to get moving:
1. Take a Brisk Walk
It may be the simplest blood-sugar workout there is. Walking gets the large muscles in your legs working and using glucose, and taking a walk after eating can help reduce the rise in blood sugar that follows a meal.
2. Add Some Resistance
Strength training can improve insulin sensitivity while building and maintaining muscle.
And you don’t need a gym. Squats, wall push-ups, resistance bands and light weights all count.
3. Get Your Heart Pumping
Cycling, swimming, dancing, climbing stairs or simply picking up the pace of your walk can all put glucose-hungry muscles to work. You don't have to exercise for an hour, either. Short periods of activity throughout the day can help, especially when they replace time spent sitting.
