November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, so let’s talk about something that deserves a little more attention… MUSCLES!
And ladies, I’m not talking about having a cute set of arms or filling out your favorite pair of jeans. Those muscles do a whollllle lot more than help you lift weights!
Did you know your muscles play an essential role in how your body manages blood sugar? Whether you’re looking to prevent Type 2 diabetes or better manage it, strength training deserves a spot in your routine.
Let’s dig into why strength training could be one of the smartest things you do for your health!
your muscles are little sugar sponges
Did you know your muscles are basically blood sugar sponges?? Your muscles LOVE glucose!
After you eat, they help pull glucose out of your bloodstream and use it for energy. The more you activate those muscles through movement and strength training, the more opportunities your body has to put that glucose to good use.
Consistent strength training does more than build strength. It also helps improve insulin sensitivity, meaning our muscle cells become more responsive to insulin and better able to use glucose.
And here’s the best part… those benefits don’t disappear when you leave the gym. The effects of strength training can continue for hours or even days after a workout!!
more muscles, more room for carbs
The secret isn’t cutting out carbs completely… it’s picking smart, energy-sustaining carbs and pairing them with protein and healthy fats. Protein helps rebuild those “sugar sponges” we just talked about, while fats keep you full and satisfied. When we fuel our bodies instead of starving it, our blood sugar stays steady, our energy stays high, and we don’t end up “hangry” raiding the pantry at 3:00pm.
I often tell my clients that more muscle means your body has a greater capacity to handle carbohydrates. And let’s be real… who doesn’t love some carbs?!
a1C: Why strength training matters
Your A1C gives you an idea of your average blood glucose levels over approximately three months. Building muscle helps your body use and store glucose, making strength training a valuable part of blood sugar management.
Combined with medication and nutrition changes, it can help improve A1C tremendously!
strength training vs. endless cardio
If your go-to plan for blood sugar or weight management has always been hours on the treadmill, well, girl, I have GREAT news for you! Kiss that treadmill goodbye!
Of course, cardio is fantastic for our hearts, but cardio doesn’t actually build long-term metabolic health the way lifting weights does!
Here’s the best part! Muscle is active tissue… it burns energy even while we binge-watch our favorite Netflix show snuggled up by the bedazzled pink Christmas tree. Oh, just me?? :)
Adding just 2-3 strength training sessions a week creates a dramatic change in how your body processes food, giving you way more bang for your gain buck!!
Managing blood sugar and protecting your health as you age doesn’t have to feel like a dreadful punishment. Building muscle is one of single most EMPOWERING gifts you can give yourself.
It supports energy, fuels your daily life, keeps your A1C in check, and yes, makes you feel like an absolute WARRIOR!
Are you ready to build those “sugar sponges” and take charge of your health? At Inspire Fitness Training, we’re here to help you through customized personal strength training, group classes, 6 week exercise programming and nutrition coaching, serving Wake Forest, North Raleigh, and the surrounding areas in North Carolina.
