A recent study presented at the Diabetes UK Professional Conference 2023 in Liverpool stated that taking short, frequent walks to break up extended periods of sitting down is a straightforward strategy for people with type 1 diabetes and obesity to control their blood sugar levels.

A two-week study of 32 persons with type 1 diabetes found that taking regular walking breaks throughout seven hours resulted in lower blood sugar levels.

The participants performed two seven-hour sitting sessions: one in which they sat for the whole seven hours and the other in which the long sitting hours were accompanied by three-minute bouts of light-intensity walking every 30 minutes. The blood sugar levels of the participants were monitored continuously during and after each sitting for 48 hours using glucose monitors.

Results showed that regular walking breaks enhanced the percentage of time peoples blood sugar levels stayed within the desired range by 14% and helped maintain lower average blood sugar levels compared to a session with no breaks.

 HOD-Internal Medicine at Primus Super Speciality Hospital in New Delhi, Dr. Anurag Saxena, stated that activity snacking is the practice of interspersing small bursts of physical activity throughout the day to break up long periods of inactivity. The goal is to get at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity daily exercise.

It is simple to break up long periods of sitting with simple activities, whether one exercises frequently or not. Dr. Anusha Nadig, Associate Consultant - Endocrinology, Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road, Bangalore, adds that walking for 3 minutes every 30 minutes of extended sitting may be beneficial. Practices such as walking while talking on the phone could be beneficial. This is a free and appropriate method of controlling blood glucose levels.

Dr. Saxena additionally concluded that "activity snacking can help persons with type 1 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels. Short bursts of exercise can improve blood glucose management by increasing insulin sensitivity and muscle glucose absorption. Another advantage of activity snacking is that it helps type 1 diabetics maintain a healthy lifestyle by incorporating physical exercise into their busy schedules.

(Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/health/activity-snacking-can-help-people-with-type-1-diabetes-study-8575042/)