Some people with type 2 diabetes tend to believe that good regular exercise may help in managing the condition. They just try to sweat it out in order manage their blood sugar levels. But there may be some cause for caution for people to first check with their doctor before following any type of exercise regimen. A recent study indicates that an exercise regimen may not offer any improvements in blood sugar management in one out of five people with type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes develops when the body starts to resist the functions of the hormone insulin. This hormone is vital to carrying sugar from the blood and into the cells for energy. With type 2 diabetes, this function is impaired, causing excess sugar staying in the bloodstream. An exercise regimen can help provide a boost in metabolism that may help in burning down more sugar in the bloodstream. But according to Lauren Marie Sparks, PhD. Florida Hospital and the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute in Orlando, FL and one of the study authors, “”Most people benefit from an exercise regimen, but our research indicates that a significant minority of individuals with Type 2 diabetes do not experience the same improvements in metabolism due to their genes.”
The researchers looked into clinical studies where type 2 diabetes patients participated in regular exercise regimens. The researchers also looked into animal and genetic studies regarding the said condition. The researchers found out that 15 to 20 percent of the participants with type 2 diabetes did not show any improvements with regards to their blood sugar control, sensitivity to insulin or improved fat burning capabilities in the muscles. The genetic and animal studies indicated that this ineffectiveness to exercise may be genetic in nature and handed down from one generation to the next.
Sparks said, “More research is needed to determine which people with or at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes will respond to an exercise program and which will not. Genetic and epigenetic patterns could hold the key to differentiating between the two groups. With that information in hand, we can target specific interventions and treatments to the individuals who will benefit most and identify novel treatment approaches to help those who do not respond to exercise.”
Findings of the study were published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism of the Endocrine Society.
Source: Endocrine Society. (2014, November 20). Exercise regimens offer little benefit for one in five people with type 2 diabetes. ScienceDaily. Retrieved November 26, 2014 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141120133139.htm
Tags: blood sugar, blood sugar levels, blood sugar management, Diabetes News, exercise routine, type 2 diabetes