According to a recent study, glycemic control in older adults with type 2 diabetes may benefit greatly from moderate exercise after but not before the evening meal.

Each of 12 participants (average age, 61.4 years) with type 2 diabetes underwent three days of testing. On one day, subjects ate a standardized dinner but didn't participate in any exercise (control group). On another day, they engaged in 20 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise just before dinner (pre group). On another day, they walked for 20 minutes about 15 to 20 minutes after dinner (post group). Blood samples were taken at regular intervals over a four-hour period before and after dinner and exercise.

Mean plasma glucose levels were significantly different between groups only after 90 minutes from the start of testing, which corresponded to the end of the after-dinner exercise period. The post group's levels (6.1 +/- 0.4 mg/dL) were significantly lower than those of the pre group (8.8 +/- 1.0 mg/dL) but not significantly lower than those of the control group (7.8 +/- 0.7 mg/dL). However, when each group's changes were examined from baseline, the post group's glucose levels were reduced significantly more than were those of the pre group and the control group.