Diabetes is a serious and life changing condition. There are two types of diabetes – type 1 and type 2 – both of these result from a higher level of sugar or glucose in your blood.
Several healthy lifestyle changes, such as eating a well-balanced diet and exercising regularly can help in prevention of diabetes and diabetes-related health issues. However, what time you exercise can also make a huge difference in the benefits you reap.
According to a new study, people who workout later in the day are less likely to develop diabetes, compared to those who work out in the mornings.
About the study
Engaging in regular exercise late in the day improves blood glucose control among older adults, according to scientists in the Netherlands.
In the research, published in the Diabetologia journal, the impact of exercise was studied on 775 Dutch men and women. The participants were aged between 45 and 65 years-old. They were split into three groups based on their workout timings – morning (between 6am and 12pm), afternoon (12pm to 6pm), or evening (6pm to midnight). The intensity of their workouts was moderate-to-vigorous.
What the findings show
Insulin resistance is when the cells of the body do not respond properly to the hormone insulin. This can lead to type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes and prediabetes. The researchers found that both the later groups saw reduced insulin resistance – by 18 percent for the afternoon group and 25 percent for the evening group.
The researchers found that performing most moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in the afternoon or evening, compared to during the day, was linked to up to 25 percent reduced insulin resistance.
How the findings help
“These results suggest that timing of physical activity throughout the day is relevant for the beneficial effects of physical activity on insulin sensitivity,” the researchers said.
“Further studies should assess whether timing of physical activity is indeed important for the occurrence of type 2 diabetes, taking into account the influence of chronotype,” they added.
