For people who are overweight and at risk of diabetes, the evening would be the best time to exercise. Nocturnal physical activity would allow better control of their blood sugar levels during the night.
- People who are overweight and at risk of developing type 2 diabetes will benefit more from sport if they practice it in the evening.
- Nocturnal physical activity reduces blood glucose levels during the night, as well as cholesterol.
Sport has many virtues: reduction of the risk of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, increase in muscle mass, benefits on the bone system, etc. For overweight patients at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, physical activity would also help to better control their blood sugar levels… But for that, you have to train in the evening! “We found that physical exercise, whether done in the morning or evening, had the same beneficial effects on cardiorespiratory fitness, however nocturnal glycemic control improved only in the group that exercised in the morning. evening“, explains Trine Moholdt, author of a study that has just been published in the journal Diabetology.
Glucose levels in diabetic patients no longer drop naturally
Type 2 diabetes, also called non-insulin dependent diabetes, is characterized by excessively high blood sugar levels, hyperglycemia. The pancreas secretes insulin (supposed to regulate the level of glucose – or sugar – in the blood) but its effect is less effective. The patient therefore has insulin resistance and his blood glucose level no longer drops naturally. It is the most common diabetes in the world. It is favored by the evolution of lifestyles and urbanization, sometimes associated with bad habits which are also risk factors for this disease: poor diet, physical inactivity, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, etc. This pathology is generally discovered in adulthood and can lead to serious consequences, such as cardiovascular problems. To avoid them, the treatment consists first of all in resuming good lifestyle habits: weight loss, physical exercise, balanced diet, etc.
Exercising in the evening reduces nighttime glucose spikes
The researchers’ clinical trial included 24 participants who were at risk of developing type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular problems, but who did not have them at the time of the study. All were inactive, male, 30 to 45 years old and overweight. For eleven days, they followed a high-fat diet and exercised in the morning or evening. Some did not practice it at all. “The group that exercised in the early evening had lower nocturnal glucose concentrations, emphasizes Trine Moholdt. This is important because people with type 2 diabetes often have nocturnal glucose spikes. (…) our study was able to show that we could reduce them and this is a very important finding because not only were the nocturnal glucose concentrations lower, but this was also valid for cholesterol”.
The most important thing is to practice regular physical activity
“This study shows that physical exercise practiced in the evening could be more beneficial than if it is carried out earlier in the day for people whose metabolism is disturbed, explains Trine Moholdt. But the most important thing is to continue to exercise, no matter what time”! This study is further proof that, depending on the time of day, the benefits of sport are therefore not the same. For those who would like to burn fat, it is for example recommended to practice it in the morning, on an empty stomach!
.