Resistance training causes your muscles to secrete a chemical that directly regulates your bodies blood sugar level by producing insulin. Find out more.

Wondering how to stabilize blood sugar? 

Whether you suffer from type II diabetes or have noticed issues with regulating your blood sugar levels, strength training can help. Lifting weights is a simple, effective way to improve insulin response and glycemic control. 

There are a few ways to go about this strategy, and as always, you should consult your doctor before trying a new workout regimen. 

Read on to learn about how resistance training can help level out your blood sugar.

How to Stabilize Blood Sugar Naturally 

Normal blood sugar levels usually live below 100 mg/dL after about eight hours without food. This is where your blood sugar should be when you wake up in the morning before you eat breakfast. 

These levels should reach about 140 mg/dL a few hours after a meal, and get as low as 70-80 mg/dL before you eat during the day. 

If you believe your blood sugar levels are off, leaving the issue untreated could lead to permanent damage to your blood vessels. Other long-term effects include numbness in your feet and legs, problems with eyesight, and decreased kidney function. 

There are several factors that can go into making sure your blood pressure stays regular. Some of these include diet, exercise, medication, and cutting back on alcohol. 

When it comes to working out, you may notice that high-intensity cardio makes your blood sugar levels fall. Inversely, incorporating resistance training can make your blood sugar levels increase. 

Because many people with blood sugar issues have trouble maintaining a regular fitness routine, they can sometimes turn to quick fixes like diet pills or fad diets. Some of these can become addictive and affect your health, so be sure to seek diet pills treatment if this is the case for you. 

Here is some information about how various resistance training methods can affect your blood sugar.

High Reps

When you do high rep workouts, your heart rate may increase because there is some level of cardio involved. 

If this is the case, you may see your blood sugar level drop once you’ve finished, similarly to the way it might drop after you go for a run or complete other cardio activities.

However, it won’t drop as much because you usually won’t get the same kind of cardio workout as you do when running, for example. 

If you’re taking any kind of insulin booster, you should reduce your pre-workout dosage by about half. 

Low Reps

When doing lower reps, your heart rate will not go up the same way as with high rep training, and you might even see your blood sugar increase. It will depend on what part of the body you’re training and how it requires you to move overall. 

For example, lunges and any movement where you lift your arms above your head tend to get the heart pumping more than other areas. 

Start Resistance Training Today

With the information above, you have a better idea of what to expect and how to stabilize blood sugar before and during a workout. 

Be sure to manage your pre-workout insulin booster accordingly and pay attention to the food you eat before and after exercise. 

Check out the rest of our site today for other health and nutrition tips!