Research

Hormonal

High-intensity or intense aerobic exercise can cause transient hyperglycemia in individuals with Type 2 Diabetes, while moderate exercise generally lowers blood glucose.

Moderate aerobic exercise is generally recommended for lowering blood glucose. If you engage in brief, intense exercise, be aware that it may cause a temporary spike in blood glucose due to stress hormones. Monitor your levels if you are unsure how your body responds to high-intensity efforts.

ModerateQualifiesMEDIUM confidence
During brief, intense aerobic exercise, plasma catecholamine levels rise markedly, driving a major increase in glucose production... Transient hyperglycemia can follow intense PA.
Sheri R. Colberg et al. · Diabetes Care · 2010

Why this rating

ACSM evidence category C (nonrandomized trials, observational studies, or panel consensus).

Source

Exercise and Type 2 Diabetes

Sheri R. Colberg et al. · Diabetes Care · 2010

DOI 10.2337/dc10-9990

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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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