To Your Health
October, 2024 (Vol. 18, Issue 10) |
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Muscle and Type 2 Diabetes
By Editorial Staff
Muscle is a critical element of health for several reasons. Muscle reduces fall risk, assists in weight management, improves bone health, and helps control / prevent a long list of health conditions.
Muscle also improves posture, sleep, and mental health. In fact, just about every health benefit you can think of is a benefit gained from building muscle.
One problem with type 2 diabetes is its impact on muscle. The study found that type 2 diabetics have an impaired ability to process creatine, a muscle protein. This impairment can reduce energy production and increase cell stress.
This may be one reason why research also suggests muscle mass is an important factor in diabetes prevention. In fact, one study found that strength training and muscle mass improvements reduced type 2 diabetes risk by more than 30%.
Since a well-rounded physical activity program that includes cardio and strength/muscle-building exercises helps prevent diabetes, and diabetes appears to impair muscle metabolism, it's a no-brainer to commit to a consistent training regimen. If that seems daunting to you – or if you seem to keep starting and stopping your program, ask your doctor for help outlining one that works for you.
