High-intensity workout improves blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes
A six week high-intensity workout programme, CrossFit™ leads to improved blood sugar levels and decreases risk of heart diseases in people with type 2 diabetes.
New research published in Experimental Physiology suggests that CrossFit improves the ability of the body to control blood sugar levels by reducing the amount of insulin required.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes where the body doesn’t produce enough insulin. It is the hormone that controls sugar levels. There may also be insulin resistance whereby the body does not use insulin properly. People with Type 2 diabetes are at significantly higher risk of heart disease.
Common symptoms include increased thirst, frequent urination, increased hunger, fatigue, slow healing of sores or wounds, unexplained weight loss and frequent infections.
One pillar of diabetes management is exercise and it has been shown to improve the body’s ability to control blood sugar levels by making the body more sensitive to the insulin produced.
CrossFit™ is a high-intensity training programme incorporating both endurance and strength training. Sessions range from 8-20 minutes in duration
India is home to the second highest number of diabetics in the world. According to the estimates of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), India had 72.9 million people with diabetes in 2017, which is projected to rise to 134.3 million by the year 2045.
Worldwide, the number of people with type 2 diabetes has quadrupled over 35 years, rising from 108 million in 1980 to 422 million in 2014. This is expected to climb to 642 million by 2040. This increase has been linked to rising levels of obesity and the accumulation of intra-abdominal fat.
However, lack of time is cited as one of the reasons for non-adherence to exercise advice particularly amongst those with Type 2 diabetes.
CrossFit™ is a high-intensity training programme incorporating both endurance and strength training. Sessions range from 8-20 minutes in duration and represent a far more time-effective form of exercise than traditional exercise interventions. CrossFit is a program developed to offer a full-body workout that combines elements of cardio, weight lifting, gymnastics, core training and more to prepare the body for the unexpected.
A total of thirteen overweight/obese patients with Type 2 diabetes were recruited to participate in a 6-week CrossFit™ exercise programme.
Participants’ blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity (an individual’s ability to reduce high blood sugar levels effectively) were assessed both before and after the exercise programme, in addition to other parameters to predict heart disease risk.
Professor John Kirwan, co-author of the paper, shared a story about one participant’s involvement in the intervention which had particularly surprised him.
“One lady started the intervention clearly motivated, and ended it quite exhilarated by the experience. The intervention had a surprisingly large effect on her fasting blood sugar, which fell from 250 mg/dL to around 90 mg/dL (normal range) – effectively remission of her diabetes! She has since continued with CrossFit™, and we hope it will serve her well into the future. Whilst an outlier, such an example provides promise to those who may be pessimistic about the possibilities of these types of interventions,” he said.
