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Regular resistance training is something that we can all benefit from! Improved body composition, increased bone mineral density and reduced risk of falls in later life are just some of the many amazing advantages of this modality of exercise.
Something however that you may not have considered is how effective resistance training can be for the management of blood glucose levels within the human body. In Australia between 2017-2018 there were around 1.2 million Australians diagnosed with diabetes, exercise along with other lifestyle factors has an important role to play in minimizing the long-term impacts of diabetes related complications associated with progressive insulin resistance.
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas within the human body that is involved in controlling the amount of glucose within the bloodstream by allowing glucose to be stored in muscle. In the case of insulin resistance, the muscle cells within the body are unresponsive to insulin leading to an inability to regulate blood sugar levels. Insulin Resistance is progressive in nature and in the case of chronic disease like type 2 diabetes can occur from accumulating unhealthy lifestyle behaviors like physical inactivity, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and poor dietary habits.
Muscles are the primary storage space for glucose in the form of glycogen. The more muscle mass available means more glucose that can be stored! Subsequently this reduces the amount of glucose circulating within the blood stream. A single bout of exercise increases insulin action and glucose tolerance for 24-72 hours meaning insulin receptors are more sensitive to the action of insulin! Even after completing your session you are getting a continued removal of glucose from the bloodstream into the muscle as they attempt to replenish their fuel stores.
Coming into the new year is always a great time to set some new goals or plans! These could be related to your career, finances, study or many other facets of your life. However, don’t neglect the value of investing in your own health and wellbeing. This doesn’t mean running marathons or moving mountains, something as simple as getting up more often, taking phone calls on the move or buying some hand weights can be an important step towards taking control of the modifiable determinants of your health. If you are just getting started, makeshift hand weights with bottles or water, bags of rice, sand or your own bodyweight can be suitable to acquire the benefits of resistance training mentioned above. If you are more advanced a gym setting may be necessary to provide that extra stimulus allowing you to continue pushing your capabilities. If you are living with or know of someone living with a condition like diabetes remind them of the benefits of regular physical activity for their health and how they can access an Accredited Exercise Physiologist.
Exercise Physiologists are allied health professionals appropriately trained to prescribe exercise for the treatment or management of chronic disease.
