Exercise At This Time Of Day For Healthier Blood Sugar  

Morning exercise gets a lot of praise and attention. "It's the best way to start your day!" They say. "You'll feel great!" But if you struggle to set up a morning exercise routine and instead like to do your exercise in the afternoon—great news! A new study shows that your exercise routine might be better for blood sugar health. 

They found that afternoon exercisers had the largest improvements in blood sugar. 

As one of the co-authors of the study, Jingyi Qian, Ph.D., explained in a news release: "We've known that physical activity is beneficial, but what our study adds is a new understanding that timing of activity may be important too." So while it takes a lot of willpower to roll out of bed and straight into the gym, a fitness class, or onto the Peleton, afternoon exercisers now have something to tout. 

This study provides us with evidence that for the millions of Americans with Type 2 diabetes, exercising in the afternoon may be the best way to get the most benefit from exercise. And who doesn't want to get the most bang for their buck? If you want to avoid a blood sugar imbalance, you can start today! Here are some tips to get you started: 

One of the foundations of healthy blood sugar is physical activity. If you can't exercise in the afternoon—still do it! Morning, afternoon, evening—it doesn't matter. The most important thing is that you do it at all! 

It's not just the lack of physical exercise that harms our blood sugar health, it's the fact that many of us sit at a desk all day. But a recent study showed that five minutes of walking for every 30 minutes of sitting was the most beneficial for blood sugar and cardiovascular health. If you can, try to get up and walk twice an hour! 

The average American eats a lot of sugar—an average of 17 teaspoons2 of added sugar per day, to be exact! To reduce sugar cravings, try focusing on healthy proteins and fats, like omega-3 fatty acids. Here are 15 of the top omega-3 supplements you can buy.

Unfortunately, research shows that 95% of people don't get enough fiber3 on a regular basis. To make sure you're on your way to meeting your fiber goals, consider adding a well-formulated fiber supplement to your routine. Here are 12 of our favorites, all vetted by a nutrition scientist Ph.D.

Chronic stress is one of the lesser-known contributors to Type 2 diabetes! And unfortunately, it's a double-edged sword since stress is linked to sugar cravings. This can create a snowball effect of stress and sugar cravings. 

A new study shows that getting your physical activity in the afternoon may be the most blood-sugar-friendly option. But even if you can't exercise in the afternoon, rest assured you're still doing one of the most important things for blood sugar health by getting your physical activity.