Why is it important to exercise after meals?

For people with diabetes, maintaining blood sugar levels within safe limits is a daily task.

In addition to diet and medication, proper and timely physical activity can have significant benefits in controlling blood sugar and preventing complications, according to the Cleveland Clinic .

Experts say that any form of exercise can help lower blood sugar. During exercise, the muscles use glucose in the blood for energy, thereby helping to lower blood sugar at the time of exercise.

Some safe and effective forms of exercise for people with diabetes include walking, yoga, tai chi, dancing, and swimming.

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Exercising right after a meal has obvious benefits

Exercising right after a meal can help stabilize blood sugar. People with type 1 and type 2 diabetes need to keep their blood sugar levels below 180 mg/dL for 2 hours after eating.

In fact, glucose typically peaks about 90 minutes after a meal, so exercising during this period offers many benefits.

Emma Rueth, a nutritionist working in the US, recommends that diabetics should check their blood sugar before, during and after exercise to better understand the changes in their body.

Appropriate form of exercise

It is recommended that patients maintain 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week, preferably divided into 5 sessions of 30 minutes each.

If you choose high intensity training, the total time should be about 75 minutes per week.

Some safe and effective forms of exercise for people with diabetes include walking, yoga, tai chi, dancing and swimming. These exercises help burn energy and maintain flexibility.

For those who choose to do high-intensity exercise for a short period of time, blood sugar can sometimes increase slightly, especially in people with type 1 diabetes. However, this is a normal reaction and in the long run, high-intensity exercise is still effective in keeping blood sugar stable.

Monitoring blood sugar before, during, and after exercise is considered an important step to ensure safety.

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Controlling blood sugar during exercise

Monitoring blood sugar before, during, and after exercise is considered an important step to ensure safety.

Before exercise, your blood sugar level should be between 140 and 160 mg/dL. If your blood sugar is too high, you should postpone exercise until your blood sugar returns to a safe level.

Patients should check more frequently when exercising for more than 30 minutes or trying a new sport .

Symptoms such as fatigue, shakiness, dizziness or confusion are signs of low blood sugar. In this situation, you need to stop exercising and immediately supplement with a source of quickly absorbed carbohydrates such as glucose tablets or fruit juice.

After a workout, blood sugar can continue to drop for several hours, especially if you skip a meal, exercise for a long time, or exercise at a high intensity. Therefore, a post-workout snack that combines protein and carbohydrates can help prevent hypoglycemia and aid muscle recovery.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tai-sao-tap-the-duc-sau-bua-an-lai-quan-trong-185250922225616699.htm