Global Courant 2023-04-27 12:50:38
Long periods of sitting can be harmful to our health, even if you exercise regularly.
Walking at a light intensity for 3 minutes every 30 minutes can help people with type 1 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels, according to a study. Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin.
Taking short breaks from sedentary time, also known as ‘activity snacking’, is a simple and cost-effective way to lower average blood sugar levels compared to sitting without interruption and also potentially reduce the risk of diabetes. future complications.
Dr Elizabeth Robertson, Research Director, Diabetes UK said: “For people with type 1 diabetes, managing blood sugar levels day in and day out is relentless. Being physically active is important in managing the condition, but incorporating exercise into your daily routine can be challenging, and even those who exercise regularly may often spend a lot of time sitting or lying down.”
Robertson suggested making a simple, practical change such as taking calls while walking or setting a timer to remind you to take breaks to avoid sitting for long periods.
Previous research has shown that breaking up periods of sitting with short, frequent walks can help people with type 2 diabetes lower their blood sugar levels and risk of complications.
This is because being active can increase the amount of glucose (sugar) used by the muscles and can help the body use insulin more effectively. But until now it was not known whether people with type 1 diabetes could see the same benefits. To find out, the team recruited 32 participants who, during one session, were asked to sit for a full seven hours. During the other, they interrupted their sedentary time with three minutes of light-intensity walking every 30 minutes.
Participants wore a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to track their blood sugar levels over a 48-hour period during and after each sitting session. Regular walking breaks resulted in lower average blood sugar levels. Importantly, breaks from sitting also did not increase low blood sugar levels, a common occurrence with more traditional types of physical activity and exercise.
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