8 best workouts for diabetes
Try these workouts for better blood sugar.
Jan 18, 2026
Written byJameson Kowalczyk
1 / 9
Slide 1
Getting regular physical activity is important for good health. And for people who have diabetes, exercise can be essential for helping to manage the condition, as well.
"Trying to manage diabetes without being physically active is like a singer performing without a microphone," says Gary Scheiner, MS, CDE, author of Think Like a Pancreas: A Practical Guide to Managing Diabetes with Insulin. "Exercise is one of the most empowering things you can do to lower your blood glucose and control your diabetes."
If you have diabetes and are looking for ways to be active, consider one of these eight expert-recommended workouts.
Sources (13)
- American Diabetes Association. Fitness. Accessed on April 24, 2023.
- American Diabetes Association. The Benefits of Walking. Accessed on April 24, 2023.
- American Diabetes Association. Overcome Barriers and Get Moving. Accessed on April 24, 2023.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Higher Daily Step Count Linked with Lower All-Cause Mortality. March 24, 2020.
- Chao M, Wang C, Dong X, Ding M. The Effects of Tai Chi on Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Meta-Analysis. J Diabetes Res. 2018 Jul 5;2018:7350567.
- American Diabetes Association. Exercising with Diabetes Complications. Accessed on April 24, 2023.
- American Diabetes Association. Understanding Neuropathy and Your Diabetes. Accessed on April 24, 2023.
- Arthritis Foundation. Hit the pool to relieve joint pain. Accessed on April 24, 2023.
- American Diabetes Association. Balance Training. Accessed on April 24, 2023.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Physical Activity: Adults with Chronic Health Conditions and Disabilities. Page last reviewed July 7, 2021.
- American Diabetes Association. Why does exercise sometimes raise blood glucose (blood sugar)? Accessed on April 24, 2023.
- Peng Y, Ou Y, Wang K, et al. The effect of low volume high-intensity interval training on metabolic and cardiorespiratory outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023 Jan 4;13:1098325.
- American Diabetes Association. Putting the Fun in Fitness. Accessed on April 24, 2023.