Benefits of Weightlifting on Blood Sugar

If you live with diabetes or hypoglycemia, you’ve likely heard that exercise is a key way to keep your blood sugar levels stable. There are several activities you can try. Brisk walks. Bike rides. Squats. All of these methods are solid.

Despite the stigma, weightlifting is another form of exercise that can be a real help in maintaining healthy blood sugar levels. To some, the word “weightlifting” may be intimidating. The bodybuilding craze of the 60s has correlated the term with images of ripped gym enthusiasts and buff wrestlers. But that doesn’t need to be the end goal of weightlifting for everyone.

For me, weightlifting has greatly helped me keep my blood sugar levels in check. The exercise has strengthened my joints, improved my mobility, heightened my flexibility, and much more.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the other benefits weightlifting can have for those with blood-sugar related conditions.

Better Blood Sugar Control

As stated before, weightlifting is a great way to help those with diabetes and hypoglycemia. But how exactly does the exercise do that?

How Does Weightlifting Impact Blood Sugar?

Fuel

Your body uses your blood sugar as a form of fuel to push you through physical activity. When this fuel is burned up, there is more space for your body to decrease sugar spikes.
Additionally, burning fuel can lower the bumps of sugar you may typically have throughout your day.

Diabetes Prevention

If you’re at risk for diabetes, weightlifting before you even get the condition can serve as a method to potentially prevent it. Improving your body’s storage and tolerance for blood sugar builds a line of defense that can stop the condition from arising.

Weight Loss in Multiple Areas

Any form of exercise will result in weight loss after it is practiced long enough, and weightlifting is no exception. The activity allows for a loss of body mass in a variety of areas.

Where Can I Lose Weight?

Physical Weight

By burning more calories through weightlifting than you consume, you can burn off pounds in several areas of the body, such as the stomach.

Mental Weight

Studies have found that weightlifting can not only affect one physically but mentally as people’s moods have been shown to improve after exercising.

Heightens Insulin Sensitivity and Glucose Storage

Insulin resistance is a key contributor to prediabetes and diabetes. Finding ways to make your body more tolerant to insulin is a great way to combat the condition or prevent it from developing in general. Additionally, low levels of glucose are a huge problem for those with hypoglycemia and diabetes.

In What Way Are Insulin and Glucose Levels Impacted?

Anaerobic Exercise

Anaerobic exercise is a particular form of exercise that uses glucose as a prime source of fuel. By using up this fuel, your body builds up more space to store more glucose.

General Exercise

Any form of exercise is proven to increase insulin sensitivity. Anaerobic exercise like weightlifting is no exception.

Suggestions

Before you begin weightlifting, it’s important you consult with a doctor about beginning the new exercise, seeing as it will directly affect your condition

If you have the insurance and funds to work with a physical therapist, I highly recommend doing so as well. A professional can help ensure you don’t overwork or potentially injure yourself. It’s hard to know your limits if you’ve never lifted weights, so having a physical therapist on standby can prevent some accidents.

If you’d like additional information about weightlifting, visit the links provided in the resources below from Healthline, Nutrisense, and Webmd.