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Type 2 Diabetes - Is Fast Cardio Right for Diabetics?
One type of exercise you've probably heard of is rapid cardio training. The idea behind this workout is that you wake up and do a cardio workout before eating (while fasting). In theory, this should help increase your overall fat burning rate since you don't have to worry about burning off the calories from the foods you just ate for breakfast. This allows your body to directly burn the body fat stores it has. But is this workout best for people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes? Or would it be better if you passed it on entirely...
Type 2 Diabetes - Is Fast Cardio Right for Diabetics?
One type of exercise you've probably heard of is rapid cardio training. The idea behind this workout is that you wake up and do a cardio workout before eating (while fasting).
In theory, this should help increase your overall fat burning rate since you don't have to worry about burning off the calories from the foods you just ate for breakfast. This allows your body to directly burn the body fat stores it has. But is this workout best for people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes? Or would it be better if you passed it on entirely?
Here are some quick points that type 2 diabetics should keep in mind...
1. The intensity.The first thing you need to pay attention to is blood sugar levels. You will most likely need to use a lower overall intensity level when doing fasted cardio because your blood sugar levels will be below the best level for performing a high-intensity workout.
Now is not the time to do the high-intensity interval sprints you normally do. Instead, you won't get anywhere with stationary cardio training. If you don't mind steady-state training, this might be fine, but for those who get bored easily, it's just not ideal.
2. The question of blood sugar.You know that as a type 2 diabetic taking medication to lower your blood sugar, it's not advisable to go hours without eating. In fact, as soon as you wake up from your overnight fast, you may find that your blood sugar levels are much lower than you would like.
Exercising now will only increase the effect. For many type 2 diabetics, a quick cardio workout could potentially lead to dangerously low blood sugar levels, making this type of exercise completely impossible.
If you're trying a quick cardio workout, talk to your doctor first. You also need to monitor your blood sugar very carefully while doing the exercise session.
So there you have it, the two most important points to keep in mind when doing cardio fasting. All in all, the benefits of fat loss aren't even as pronounced because the intensity of cardio decreases. It is just as beneficial for your body if you do a HIIT session later in the day after eating and have the energy to do the most intense exercise.
Inspired by Beverleigh H Piepers