Self-reported daily exercise lowers blood sugar level in body

A new study has recently revealed that self-reported daily exercise helps in reducing blood pressure and blood glucose levels.

The study conducted by Kaiser Permanente categorized patients as "regularly active" if they reported 150 minutes of exercise per week or more, "irregularly active" if they reported any exercise but less than 150 minutes per week, and "inactive" if they reported no exercise.

The study found that women who were consistently and even irregularly active had lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure compared with those who were inactive. Men had lower diastolic blood pressure but there was no association with their systolic blood pressure.

The findings also showed that consistently and irregularly active male and female patients had fasting glucose levels lower than the consistently inactive patients. Consistently active and irregularly active women had a greater magnitude of difference for cardiometabolic variables compared with similarly active men.

Deborah Rohm Young, PhD, of the Kaiser Permanente said that they didn't presume causality between the level of physical activity and health status based on these data, but combining findings with results from intervention studies suggested that exercise plays an integral part in moderating blood sugar and blood pressure, and eventually patient's cardiometabolic health.

The EVS program also encouraged Kaiser Permanente physicians and other health care professionals to recommend more exercise to those who reported little or no regular activity in an average week. Physicians recommend "moderate to vigorous" exercise (such as a brisk walk) to patients who report being inactive.

The study is published in the Preventing Chronic Disease journal.