One of the most common causes of global mortality is diabetes. Diabetes is being characterized by an abnormal glucose metabolism resulting from defects in insulin release, insulin action, or both. This disease is categorized as type 1 or type 2. Type 1 accounts for 5-10% of global cases, the cause of this is an absolute deficiency of insulin secretion resulting in autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Type 2 diabetes covers 90-95% of global cases, results from a combination of the inability of the cells to respond to insulin and inadequate compensatory insulin secretion, leading to failure of uptake of circulating glucose into muscle and liver. This disease can be prevented and minimize by a healthy diet and exercise. As for the discussion of the effects of physical activity, it will be focused on type 2 diabetes.
This complex disease requires rigorous self-management combined with an appropriate balance of nutrition intake, medication, and physical activity. In the aspect of physical activity, the acute effect of exercise on type 2 diabetes improves insulin sensitivity, facilitates glucose uptake, and aids in glucose homeostasis. Most of the time, an acute bout of exercise lowers blood sugar up to 72 hrs. post-exercise.
Physical activity causes increased glucose uptake into active muscle balance by hepatic glucose production, with greater reliance on carbohydrates to fuel muscular activity as intensity increases. Insulin-stimulated blood glucose uptake into skeletal muscle predominates at rest and impaired in type 2 diabetes, while muscular contractions stimulate blood sugar transport via separate, additive mechanisms not impaired by insulin resistance. The acute effects of resistance exercise in type 2 diabetes have not been reported, but result in low fasting blood level for at least 24 hrs. post-exercise in individuals with impaired fasting glycemia.
With all the statements being said above, it is very clear that diabetes can be prevented and be minimized with the right diet, medication, and physical activity. For the record, type 2 diabetes has been rampant globally, it is right for us to decide to care for our body. To love our body enough for us to do exercise. It is not always an autoimmune or genetic disease to blame, we also are responsible for our body. Let us start taking care of our body, now.