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Yoga & Walking Combo Slashes Blood Sugar
25 Nov
Summary
- Yoga and walking combined showed greatest blood sugar improvement.
- Both activities individually lowered fasting blood sugar levels.
- Exercise helps muscles use glucose for energy and boosts insulin sensitivity.
New research indicates that a combination of yoga and walking may be highly effective for managing blood sugar levels. A pilot study involving adults with type 2 diabetes found that participants engaged in both yoga and walking experienced the most significant reductions in HbA1c, a measure of average blood sugar over time.
Individually, both yoga and walking led to notable decreases in fasting blood sugar. Yoga practice also showed improvements in post-meal blood sugar readings. Beyond metabolic benefits, the study observed enhanced quality of life across all exercise groups, with the combined approach offering the greatest overall gains.
Experts explain that exercise generally aids blood sugar control by prompting muscles to use blood glucose for energy and by increasing the body's sensitivity to insulin. While this pilot study is preliminary, it aligns with existing research highlighting the benefits of both yoga and walking for diabetes management, underscoring the importance of consistent physical activity.
