Weight Lifting and Diabetes – I have been using P90x for 9 months and my average morning blood sugar went from 240’s to 80’s. My experience and medical research are on the same page…”Medical science has well established the benefits of aerobic exercise for people with type 2 diabetes. Now, researchers believe that a diabetes and exercise plan also should include a regular weight-training routine. (The federal government recommends that all people, even those without chronic illness, strength train at least twice a week.) Strength training has been shown to improve the symptoms of type 2 diabetes and, when part of a workout plan that includes aerobics, can put the person with diabetes on the path to long-term good health.
Diabetes and Exercise: The Benefits of Strength Training
Studies have found that strength training can help people with diabetes by improving the body’s ability to use insulin and process glucose. This occurs because:
You experience an increase in lean muscle mass, which boosts your base metabolic rate and causes you to burn calories at a faster rate. Burning those calories helps keep your blood glucose levels in check.
The ability of your muscles to store glucose increases with your strength, making your body better able to regulate its blood sugar levels.
Your body fat-to-muscle ratio decreases, reducing the amount of insulin you need in your body to help store energy in fat cells.
Even better results have been observed when people with type 2 diabetes combine a weight training routine with regular aerobic exercise. The two forms of exercise work together to create better health benefits than either does on its own” ..read moreDiabetes exercise video on youtube.