Brisk walking helps control blood sugar: Why can't housework replace exercise?

Exercise Recommendations and Cautions for People with High Blood Sugar:

**Recommended:** One Hour of Brisk Walking Daily: Many people over 40 develop diabetes due to long-term improper diet or lack of exercise. The World Health Organization estimates that there are currently 135 million people with diabetes globally, and this number is projected to increase to 300 million by 2025, with the majority of these cases occurring in developing countries. A Harvard School of Public Health study of 70,000 middle-aged women found that walking briskly for about one hour daily can reduce the risk of developing diabetes by about 50%. The Harvard School of Public Health's Department of Internal Medicine states that both low-intensity exercises like brisk walking and more vigorous exercises like sprinting can significantly reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes (also known as non-insulin-dependent NIDDM).

Therefore, consistent and appropriate exercise is an effective way to prevent and treat diabetes and its complications. Specifically, it reduces fat, lowers weight, and enhances insulin sensitivity, thereby lowering blood sugar. Walking is the safest, simplest, and easiest exercise to maintain. However, it is important to avoid exercising on an empty stomach to prevent a drop in insulin levels, which can increase blood sugar and worsen the condition.

Avoid replacing exercise with housework: In real life, some diabetic patients refuse physical exercise, citing reasons such as, "I'm already very active all day—washing clothes, cooking, and taking care of two children." This thinking is extremely unscientific. While housework is tedious and tiring, it actually burns very few calories; it's merely light physical labor.

Numerous facts show that although housework is much better than complete inactivity, very few people can lose weight or significantly lower their blood sugar through housework alone. Therefore, housework cannot replace physical exercise, and diabetic patients must schedule dedicated time for exercise.

Of course, for most patients who are busy with housework all day, it's best to combine housework with physical exercise, such as taking a long walk pushing a stroller, exercising while taking care of children, and running, playing ball, or doing exercises with older children.

It should be noted that, similar to physical exercise, some housework is of a suitable amount, which patients can do happily and feel relaxed. Such housework is beneficial to health. Conversely, if housework is too heavy and makes patients feel mentally and physically overwhelmed, it will inevitably have a negative impact on their health. Patients should pay attention to this when doing housework.