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May 25 (UPI) — A new study suggests that engaging in exercise during the afternoon is more beneficial for people with type 2 diabetes in terms of blood glucose control compared to exercising in the morning.
In a study published in Diabetes Care, researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Joslin Diabetes Center found that individuals with type 2 diabetes who were physically active later in the day experienced greater improvements in blood glucose control after one year.
Effective management of blood glucose levels is crucial for individuals with type 2 diabetes as they face an increased risk of heart disease, kidney disease, and vision impairment.
“While physical activity has long been recognized as beneficial, our study reveals that the timing of activity may also play a role,” stated co-corresponding author Dr. Jingyi Qian from the Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders at the Brigham.
The researchers utilized data from the Look AHEAD study, which monitored the lifestyles of over 2,400 patients with type 2 diabetes, including the development of cardiovascular disease over time.
For this particular study, the researchers focused on analyzing the time of day at which the patients engaged in physical activity, as recorded by waist accelerometer devices.
“Our findings demonstrate that adults with type 2 diabetes experienced the greatest improvement in glucose control when they were most active in the afternoon,” Qian added.
Upon reviewing the data from the first year, the researchers observed that individuals who engaged in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity during the afternoon had the most significant reduction in blood glucose levels compared to those who exercised at other times of the day.
Data from the fourth year indicated that the afternoon exercise group maintained their reduced blood glucose levels and, in some cases, were able to discontinue their glucose-lowering or diabetes medications.
It is worth noting that while this study examined the timing of exercise, it did not take into account other factors influencing blood sugar, such as sleep and diet.
“Timing does appear to be important,” stated co-corresponding author Dr. Roeland Middelbeek, an assistant investigator at Joslin Diabetes Center. “Moving forward, we may have more data and experimental evidence to provide more personalized recommendations for patients.”
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