Long periods of sitting time can be harmful to our health, even if you exercise regularly. But ‘activity snacking’ could offer people a simple, cost-free way to help manage their blood sugar levels and potentially reduce their risk of future complications.
Previous research has shown that breaking up periods of sitting with short, frequent walks can help people with type 2 diabetes reduce their blood sugar levels and their risk of complications. This is because being active can increase the amount of glucose (sugar) used by muscles and can help the body to use insulin more effectively.
But until now it was not known if people with type 1 diabetes could see the same benefits. Or if there could be any risks, such as having more hypos.
With funding from Diabetes UK, Dr Matthew Campbell at the University of Sunderland investigated, for the first time, the impact of breaking up sedentary time on blood sugar levels in people with type 1 diabetes.