Best workout intensity to lower blood sugar after eating
Exercise intensities and metabolic health: Targeting blood glucose, insulin, and C-peptide levels in adults with prediabetes in the postprandial state
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
70% intensity restored insulin levels to near-fasting values (26.74 → 28.47), while higher intensities didn’t improve this further.
Most assume higher intensity = better insulin sensitivity, but here, 80% didn’t outperform 70%—even though it burned more calories.
Practical Takeaways
After eating, do 30 minutes of brisk walking or cycling at 70% of your max heart rate (roughly 120–140 bpm for most adults).
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
70% intensity restored insulin levels to near-fasting values (26.74 → 28.47), while higher intensities didn’t improve this further.
Most assume higher intensity = better insulin sensitivity, but here, 80% didn’t outperform 70%—even though it burned more calories.
Practical Takeaways
After eating, do 30 minutes of brisk walking or cycling at 70% of your max heart rate (roughly 120–140 bpm for most adults).
Publication
Journal
Journal of Taibah University Medical Sciences
Year
2024
Authors
Saman Tauqir, S. S. Shah, Inayat Shah, Saqib Ali
Related Content
Claims (6)
Engaging in consistent physical activity is associated with better control of blood glucose levels in individuals who have a high risk of developing prediabetes.
For adults with prediabetes, exercising at 70% of their maximum heart rate leads to a larger drop in C-peptide levels after eating than exercising at higher or lower intensities, indicating a difference in how the body handles insulin production or demand.
For adults with prediabetes, exercising at 70% of their maximum heart rate lowers blood sugar after a meal by about 50 mg/dL within an hour, more than exercising at lower intensities.
For adults with prediabetes, exercising on a treadmill for 30 minutes at 70% of their maximum heart rate after eating leads to a larger drop in blood sugar and insulin levels afterward than exercising at lower or higher intensities.
For adults with prediabetes, exercising at 70% of their maximum heart rate helps blood insulin levels return to fasting levels more quickly after eating, which suggests the body is using insulin more efficiently.