How does exercise affect insulin absorption?

Exercise improves insulin's ability to lower high blood sugar and keep it stable -- a key requirement for living a healthier life with diabetes and preventing its complications. Regular workouts also help you improve your cholesterol, lower your blood pressure, strengthen your heart, and maintain or lose weight. Add to that the fact that exercise lowers stress, increases energy, and improves mood and you've got an incredibly powerful tool for managing diabetes on several fronts.

A new study reveals how important physical activity is to control blood sugar. Researchers found that when physically active, non-diabetic adults cut their normal amount of exercise in half for three days, they had a 97% higher-than-normal spike in blood sugar one hour after eating a meal.

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Exercise can affect insulin absorption by speeding up how fast the insulin you inject goes to work by increasing the flow of blood through your body. For example, injecting into an arm or leg involved in exercise can speed up insulin absorption. Given insulin’s varying effects, make sure to check your blood glucose levels whenever you exercise.