For people with type 2 diabetes, exercise is an essential part of their treatment plan. Exercise helps make the body more sensitive to the action of insulin. Additionally, for people who do not have diabetes, regular exercise is thought to help reduce the risk of its occurrence.

Let's take a look at some of the things that happen after exercise that improve the body's ability to use insulin (medically known as improving insulin sensitivity).

• Exercise increases blood flow to the muscles, and increases the blood's ability to transport certain substances.
• The increased blood flow that occurs with exercise increases the ability of muscle tissue to metabolize substances.
• Exercise helps the cells absorb glucose from the bloodstream and dispose of it more rapidly. This process can last for up to two hours after exercising.
• After exercise, the muscles have a greater need to replace the glucose they have expended. In this recovery period, glucose is shuttled to recover muscle tissue rapidly, where it is stored as glycogen for later use.
• For up to 48 hours after exercising, there is increased insulin sensitivity.
• The more you exercise, the better "trained" the cells are to dispose of glucose more efficiently.
• Muscles trained by exercise have a better blood supply and lower levels of fatty acids.

The bottom line? Find ways to incorporate exercise into your daily routine — every little bit counts.

Remember to consult with your health care provider before starting or making significant changes to an exercise program.