How to manage your blood sugar with exercise

Movement can be a powerful medicine for people with diabetes and other forms of insulin resistance. But intensity and timing can make a difference.

- Hilary Achauer

These days, more and more of us have to worry about our blood sugar.

Some 38 million Americans have diabetes, and more than two times that number have pre-diabetes. Many millions more have some form of insulin resistance, which can make you tired, irritable and even dizzy. And all of these conditions become more common as we age. The good news is that exercise can help. It's at least as important as your diet for preventing and treating insulin resistance and diabetes. It can also help you lose weight, which is often the most important step in levelling out blood sugar.

Exercise has several unique ways to help your body process glucose, said Dr Donald Hensrud, a specialist in preventive medicine and nutrition and medical editor of "The Mayo Clinic Diet." And while any exercise is good for you, the type of movement you choose and when you do it can play a big role in how much it helps. Here are some things you should think about when planning workouts, according to experts:

Exercise is essential to managing blood sugar

The causes of diabetes are complex. Family history, genetics, weight and diet certainly play a role. But it's clear that exercise can dramatically lower your blood glucose, regardless of your diagnosis, and improve how well your body uses insulin.