Manage your blood sugar with exercise

These days, more and more people have to worry about their blood sugar.

- Hilary Achauer

NEW YORK - Some 38 million Americans have diabetes, and more than two times that number have prediabetes. 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 people age.

The good news is that exercise can help. It is at least as important as the diet in preventing and treating insulin resistance and diabetes. It can also help you lose weight, which is often the most important step in leveling out blood sugar.

Exercise helps the body process glucose in several unique ways, said Dr. Donald Hensrud, a specialist in preventive medicine and nutrition and medical editor of The Mayo Clinic Diet. Although any exercise is good, 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, say experts.

EXERCISE IS ESSENTIAL FOR MANAGING BLOOD SUGAR

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

In fact, research has shown that exercise is generally more effective at preventing diabetes than medication, though it is important to use all types of treatment.