Control diabetes with cycling: Everything you need to know to master your blood sugar!

Ask anyone battling diabetes, and they will tell you how challenging it is to live with this chronic condition. Diabetes affects millions of people worldwide, and in the last few years, young people have also been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, while many are born with type 1 diabetes. Diabetes is a severe disease, and if you do not control it, you increase your chances of kidney disease, heart attack, and stroke. 

Fortunately, with lifestyle changes like diet and physical activity along with medication, you can control and reverse diabetes if you are in the pre-diabetes stage. Among the various forms of exercise, cycling is an effective and enjoyable form of workout to manage diabetes. To control diabetes with cycling, you must start riding, but carefully. In this blog, we will discuss the benefits of cycling for diabetic patients or anyone looking to keep diabetes at bay. The article also talks about the tips to remember when cycling with diabetes. So, read on to master your blood sugar levels and enjoy a healthier life through cycling.

How does cycling control diabetes?  

Improved insulin sensitivity

To control diabetes with cycling, understand the role of insulin. Diabetes happens when the pancreas is not producing enough insulin or when your body cannot use the insulin effectively. Therefore, you have to manage your insulin levels. Cycling is one activity that improves insulin sensitivity in the body. How? When you cycle, you engage your large muscle groups, which promotes improved insulin sensitivity. Thus, cycling every day for 30–60 minutes increases the use of glucose by muscle cells. Thus, it reduces the body’s reliance on insulin. This heightened sensitivity ensures stable blood sugar levels and, over time, better glycemic control. When you pedal, your body uses more sugar (insulin) for energy. Thus, lowering your blood sugar levels is necessary for managing diabetes.

It helps with faster muscle recovery.

People with diabetes tend to feel pain more. Thus, rigorous exercise may cause long-term pain. However, with cycling, your muscle recovery is faster as it is a non-traumatic sport. Even older people with joint or muscle pain or issues can control diabetes by cycling without being in pain for hours.

It helps keep your weight in check.

Keeping your weight in check is essential to managing diabetes. Finding a perfect exercise routine that can keep your weight in check is necessary, and cycling is the best exercise for this. Cycling for 30 minutes at a moderate intensity helps you burn 300 calories. So, buying a cycle from a bicycle shop Jaipur to lose weight is necessary for maintaining diabetes. Why? Being at an ideal weight ensures your body can make use of insulin to provide energy. So, cycle every day because it allows your body to work in harmony and deal with diabetes.

It helps with heart health.

When you have diabetes, your chances of cardiovascular diseases and complications increase. Diabetes can make your heart weak, but cycling makes you a superhero; it makes the heart super strong. Riding a bicycle helps control your cholesterol levels, reduces blood pressure, and improves blood sugar levels. All in all, your heart becomes strong. So, cycle not just to control your diabetes but also to ensure your heart is healthy and happy.

Cycling is a stress buster for you.

Do you know stress can cause you to develop type 2 diabetes? Yes, it is true. Stress can negatively impact your blood sugar levels. Exercise usually helps release endorphins, which are natural stress relievers in your body. Cycling is not just a workout but also a fun activity, which makes it super helpful for relieving stress. Furthermore, when you cycle, you meet new people and make a circle of friends. Having people to socialize with also helps reduce stress levels. So, regular cycling can ensure your stress levels are under control. That ultimately ensures your emotional well-being and keeps diabetes under control.

It optimizes your blood sugar levels.

When you cycle consistently, it lowers your fasting blood sugar levels. The efforts you put into pedaling during cycling enhance glucose utilization. Thus, it ensures the effective utilization of blood sugar by your body’s cells. How does it help with diabetes management? Well, your overall sugar readings are controlled over time.

Things to keep in mind while cycling as a diabetic

Start gradually

If you are a beginner to cycling or have a pre-existing health condition, you should start slowly. Begin with a shorter ride at a pace comfortable to you and increase gradually. When you start gradually, you have a low risk of injury while allowing your body to adapt to the new exercise routine.

Select the right bike.

Whether you ride for leisure, to lose weight, or to manage diabetes, it is essential to find the right bike. Shop for a suitable bike at a bicycle shop Jaipur and choose from a wide range of cycles. Choose a mountain bike, road bike, stationary bike, and more depending on your preferences and physical condition.

Stay hydrated

To control diabetes with cycling, proper hydration, and fuel are the keys. Whatever route you choose for cycling, ensure you always carry water with you. Also, if you ride for an extended period of time, carry nutritious snacks with you.

Eat a balanced diet.

Only cycling will not help keep your blood sugar level in check. It is also essential to eat a proper diet. Ensure you eat a diet rich in protein, good fat and carbs, and fiber.

Have a routine.

Consistency is key! So, when trying to control diabetes with cycling, ensure you have an established routine. Ride for 30 minutes moderately for at least 5 days. The consistency of cycling ensures you will enjoy the benefits for a long time.

Warm-up

Before you start riding, warm up. Open up your joints to ensure you do not sustain injuries while riding a bike for a long time. Similarly, after you complete your session, you should cool down.

Also Read: 10 benefits of cycling: How bike riding can boost your health and power your mind?

Conclusion

Diabetes, a chronic condition, is a severe metabolic disease. If you are diabetic or have a history of diabetes in your family, take measures to control diabetes through cycling. Since it is a low-impact exercise, even adults can enjoy it. Moreover, ensure you make lifestyle changes like eating a balanced diet instead of a diet full of carbohydrates or processed foods. Moreover, once you start riding, you enjoy benefits like increased mental well-being, good cardiovascular health, weight loss, and, of course, blood sugar control. Let’s be grateful to Karl Von Drais for investing in cycling in 1817, buying the best bike for ourselves from a bicycle shop in Jaipur, and riding towards fitness.