People with diabetes are at risk of complications including nerve damage, vision and hearing problems, kidney disease, heart disease and premature death.
The study authors note that the observational study comes with limitations, as it did not measure sleep or diet.
“Timing seems to matter,” said co-corresponding author Dr. Roland Middelbeek, assistant investigator at the Joslin Diabetes Center. “In the future, we may have more data and experimental evidence to provide more personalized recommendations to patients.”
Dr Lucy Chambers, Diabetes UK’s Head of Research Communications, said of the study: “Being physically active can help people with type 2 diabetes to control their blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of serious diabetes-related complications such as heart disease. Kidney failure, as well as improving their overall well-being.
Chambers, who was not involved in the study, emphasized the need for people to exercise where they can.
“This new study shows that regular ‘moderate to vigorous’ physical activity whether in the morning, midday, afternoon or evening is associated with lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Afternoon exercise was associated with the greatest benefit, but the reasons for this are unclear and current evidence for the optimal time for exercise is mixed.
“If you’re living with type 2 diabetes, the most important thing is to find an exercise that you enjoy and that you can incorporate into your routine long-term – whether it’s before work, on your lunch break or in the evening,” she added.
The team’s findings are published in the journal Diabetes Care.
