Two easy ways to lower your blood sugar

By Michael Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet Oz, M.D. on Jul 1, 2024

Around 90 million folks in the U.S. take metformin to treat Type 2 diabetes. And recent research shows that it offers many added benefits: It helps folks with prediabetes avoid progression to full-blown Type 2, helps protect the heart, reduces the risk of stroke and lowers the risk of some cancers and of dementia in folks with diabetes. That's kind of amazing!

But a new study shows that if you want it to be most effective in managing your prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes and in conveying all the benefits that come from that, timing is everything.

Although it has long been recommended that metformin be taken with meals, research published in the journal Diabetologia shows that taking it 30 to 60 minutes before eating significantly improves blood sugar levels after eating. That's because that timing gives it a chance to reduce blood sugar levels as well as increase levels of a hormone (GLP-1) that decreases hunger. It also stimulates insulin secretion and slows gastric emptying. Those benefits are muted if the medication is taken with food, instead of before. So, talk to your doctor about trying this new routine and monitoring your glucose levels to see if it benefits you, too.

Another cool tip for folks with Type 2 diabetes: A new study published in Obesity reveals that for sedentary folks who are overweight or have obesity, moderate to vigorous exercise in the evening is most effective in lowering daily blood sugar levels. So, take that after-dinner walk, using intermittently faster pacing.

Dr. Mike Roizen is the founder of www.longevityplaybook.com, and Dr. Mehmet Oz is global advisor to www.iHerb.com, the world's leading online health store. Roizen and Oz are chief wellness officer emeritus at Cleveland Clinic and professor emeritus at Columbia University, respectively. Together they have written 11 New York Times bestsellers (four No. 1's).

Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.