Yes, some types of exercise can help to lower blood sugar levels in both the short- and long-term.
According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), exercise can result in lower blood sugar levels for 24 hours or more. This makes the body more sensitive to insulin.
With regular exercise, a person’s A1C results may also reduce. A1C is a test that measures average blood sugar levels over the previous few months.
However, Diabetes UK notes that different types of exercise affect blood sugar differently. Low intensity forms of exercise, such as walking, cycling, and yoga, tend to lower blood sugar.
In contrast, high intensity exercise can temporarily raise it because it stimulates the release of stress hormones, such as adrenaline.
It is important for people with diabetes to monitor their blood sugar levels before and after exercise to ensure their blood sugar levels are not too high or too low.
Before exercising, blood sugar levels should be 72 mg/dL (4 mmol/L) or higher, or above 63 mg/dL (3.5 mmol/L) if a person uses an insulin pump.
If blood sugar is lower than this, people should not exercise and instead treat their low blood sugar levels with carbohydrates according to their treatment plan.
People who take diabetes medications and do not adjust their carbohydrate intake when they exercise could also have a higher risk of hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, when they exercise. If this occurs, treat it immediately.
If blood sugar levels are above 13 mmol/L, individuals should be aware that exercise may cause blood sugar levels to rise. If this happens, blood sugar levels are consistently too high, or high or low blood sugar is interfering with exercise, consult a doctor.