Can walking after meals help control blood glucose?
Light walking after meals may reduce the post-meal glucose rise, particularly in some people with type 2 diabetes. It does not replace medicines or meal planning, and ten minutes will not have an identical effect on glucose or blood fats in everyone.
Details
What do studies show?
Small studies comparing short walks after meals or glucose with sitting or differently timed activity found improvements in glucose measures. Short-term results alone do not prove prevention of all diabetes complications.
Start comfortably
Try a few minutes and increase within your ability, rather than running hard after a large meal. There is no universal minute-by-minute schedule. Choose a safe route and suitable footwear.
If you use insulin
Follow your monitoring plan and carry hypo treatment because activity can affect glucose. Stop for dizziness, chest pain or unusual breathlessness. Foot wounds or heart disease may require a different activity agreed with your team.
Related reading: Is morning exercise better than evening exercise for fat loss and health?.