Cure Diabetes

Beat Diabetes with Exercise

If you're ready to fight to reverse your diabetes, a pair of sneakers can be one of your best investments
By Alyssa Shaffer prevention
 

The Exercise Solution

Beat Diabetes with Exercise // woman walking outside © Thinkstock

Image: Thinkstock

Studies have shown that exercise can be as effective as some medications when it comes to beating type 2 diabetes. "Even a little activity can help hugely," says Tim Church, MD, PhD, director of preventive medicine research at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, LA. During exercise, glucose gets driven out of the bloodstream and into the muscles for fuel. The more muscle you have, the more excess blood sugar it can store, explains Sheri Colberg-Ochs, PhD, professor of exercise science at Old Dominion University. Plus there's the weight loss that comes with a fitter lifestyle: Dropping pounds improves your insulin response, further lowering glucose levels. (Find out more ways looking better can improve your health!)

While most types of exercise can help, researchers now have a sense of what has the most impact. Here, our proven, three-pronged approach to conquering diabetes.

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