Exercise has various health benefits, from maintaining a moderate weight to improving heart health. While all exercise is beneficial, a recent study found that exercising in the morning may yield greater cardiometabolic benefits than later in the day. It’s unclear whether the relationship between exercise and cardiometabolic health is mediated by other factors or causal. However, the researchers noted that the findings could inform counseling approaches for physical activity

High: Makes You Pee More Your kidneys have to work hard to process all that extra sugar in your blood. When they can’t keep up, your body gets rid of it, along with water that your body needs.     High: Makes You Thirsty To get rid of that extra sugar, your body draws water from its own tissues. Because you need that fluid to make energy, transfer nutrients, and get rid of waste, a switch flips in your brain to tell you that you’re thirsty so you’ll drink more. High: Dry Mout

About 40 million Americans—12% of the U.S. population—have diabetes, 38 million of them having type 2 diabetes. People with diabetes are often advised to limit their consumption of sweets to help manage their blood sugar levels. But a crucial component of a healthy eating pattern is that it's enjoyable so you can stick with it for the long haul, which means that occasionally including a dessert or sweet snack can be a smart move—and this includes chocolate. But choosing which

If you have Type 2 diabetes (T2D), you may need to take insulin or other medications, like metformin or GLP-1s, to help manage your blood sugar (glucose). Monitoring your blood sugar levels, getting regular A1C tests and paying attention to any symptoms can help your healthcare provider know if your treatment is working. Registered dietitian and diabetes educator Nicole Bruno, RD, LD, shares how you can know if your Type 2 diabetes treatment is working. Signs your Type 2 diab

If you have symptoms such as severe increased thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, increased hunger, and tingling in your hands or feet, your doctor may run a test for diabetes. According to the CDC, some 38 million children and adults in the U.S., or over 11% of the population, have diabetes today. Yet, millions of Americans are unaware that they have diabetes because they may not have symptoms. To confirm the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, your doctor will or

Type 2 diabetes is a long-term, chronic medical condition. It develops mostly in adults but is becoming more common in children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Several factors contribute to type 2 diabetes, including overweight and obesity. Type 2 diabetes can lead to life threatening complications, but with treatment, you can manage the condition or cause it to go into remission. Read on for more information about managing diabetes for b

Oct. 12, 2012, was the day I almost died — and also the first step on a path that led to how I manage my type 2 diabetes and how it affected my heart. I’m an emergency medical technician and a retired Army medic, but that day I didn’t recognize I was the one having the emergency.  A few months earlier, my wife, Sheila, and I had decided to get healthier by losing weight and exercising more. I was pushing 330 pounds, and though I felt fine and had annual checkups, I knew I nee

Craving sugar may mean your body (and brain) is signaling that something deeper is off. From stress and sleep debt to diet imbalances, understanding why those cravings hit can help you take back control. 1. Conditioning By repeating everyday habits, you condition your brain and body to expect it and respond to it. If you regularly fuel yourself with foods high in added sugar, you might eat sugar on autopilot. Consider the types of foods that make up your diet. Have you become

For those who have high blood pressure , taking a prescription medication can literally be life -saving. While medications are never a substitute for having healthy diet and lifestyle habits in place, scientific studies have shown just how powerful blood pressure-lowering medications can be.  For example, according to a 2024 scientific study published in Cureus , taking a blood pressure-lowering medication significantly reduced high blood pressure in elderly adults with hyper

Diabetes is a condition where the body either doesn’t produce insulin ( type 1 ) or doesn’t use insulin properly ( type 2 ). Both types result in too much glucose, or sugar, in the blood. Insulin is a hormone made in the pancreas. It regulates the amount of glucose in the blood, and allows your body to use sugar from carbohydrates for energy. Without insulin, sugar can’t get into your cells and it accumulates in the bloodstream. About 1.2 million Americans are diagnosed w

As a podiatrist, I often view the human body through the lens of the feet. They are our foundation, yet they are often the last place we look when a health crisis begins. For people living with diabetes, this oversight can be catastrophic. The correlation between diabetes and foot health isn't merely a minor complication; it is a profound and urgent medical concern. It’s fitting that November is American Diabetes Month. This is a vital time for national awareness, not just ab

Keeping track of your blood sugar is a key part of diabetes management. Achieving a “normal” blood sugar or glucose level is a bit of a misnomer. Often, the word “normal” is used to reference what someone’s blood sugars might be if they didn’t have diabetes. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the fasting glucose range between 70 and 100 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), or 3.9 and 5.6 millimoles per liter (mmol/L). However, it’s important to note that this termin

These days, we’re more aware of how sugary beverages can affect our health, and for good reason. Millions of Americans have Type 2 diabetes, and reducing sugar intake can help people manage or prevent the condition. However, some popular drinks have kept their “health halos” because they can (rightfully) slap “no sugar” on their labels. But experts emphasize that these “no sugar” labels don’t mean nothing problematic is going on there. “Many drinks marketed as healthy or low-

According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute , metabolic syndrome is having at least three of these five conditions: abdominal obesity, high blood sugar, high blood pressure, high triglycerides, and low “good cholesterol.” People who have metabolic syndrome can then be at an increased risk for several health problems, like heart failure, type 2 diabetes, and organ damage. A systematic review and meta-analysis published in Nutrients found that not eating breakf

There’s no magic drink for lowering blood sugar, but some beverages, like teas and juices, may help keep your levels steady. These drinks can naturally support balanced levels and other long-term health benefits. 1. Water Dehydration can lead to higher blood sugar levels, thanks to increased levels of the hormones vasopressin and cortisol, which impact blood sugar regulation. Increasing water intake can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and potentially lower blood sugar leve

Insulin resistance and diabetes are closely related. But not everyone who is insulin resistant has diabetes, and not all people with diabetes are insulin resistant. However, insulin resistance increases your chances of developing both prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, in particular. This article explains the similarities and differences between insulin resistance and diabetes. What are the differences between insulin resistance and diabetes? Though interconnected, they are qui

Blood sugar is used for energy. Excess sugar in your blood gets stored in cells for later use. Too much sugar in your blood can be harmful. Type 2 diabetes is a disease where you have higher levels of blood sugar than typical limits. Unmanaged diabetes can lead to problems with your heart, kidneys, eyes, and blood vessels. The more you know about how eating affects blood sugar, the better you can protect yourself against diabetes. If you already have diabetes, it’s important

When you’re living with diabetes or prediabetes, the foods you eat can have a tremendous impact on your blood glucose, not to mention...

When was the last time you had your blood sugar checked? It might be worth looking into, a new study says. Forty-four percent of people...

There’s no magic fix, but what you eat plays a big role in keeping blood sugar steady. The right mix of fiber, protein, and healthy fats...