JDOM, you are correct, during exercise muscle burn glucose. But there is a little bit more at work here. For Type-2 diabetics, exercises allows the body to better (and more efficiently) use the insulin that the pancreas produces. Insulin is a hormone that is produced in the pancreas. Insulin is central to regulating energy and glucose metabolism in the body. Insulin causes cells in the liver, muscles, and fat tissues to take up glucose from the blood. Exercise works as a key that "unlocks" muscle (and the liver) so that it can absorb glucose, thus reducing levels of blood glucose and making insulin work more efficiently. This "unlocking" effect lasts for up to 12 hours of intensive exercise. For Type-2 diabetics like myself, whose cells are insulin-resistant, exercise is a godsend.

On May 2010 my A1c was 13 and my doctor told me that unless I did something drastic, I was looking at certain blindness and loss of limb(s). On September 2010 my A1c had dropped to 6. An A1c of 13 is equal to a daily average blood glucose of over 300; an A1c of 6 is equal to a daily average of 126. In other words, I have managed to go from certain blindness, kidney damage and possible loss of limb(s) to relatively excellent health. I have gone from 140 daily units of insulin to 30 units a day.

I owe it to better diet and riding my bike. I ride an average of 15-20 miles 3 times a week during the weekdays. On the weekends I ride both Saturday and Sunday. My weekend rides go from 50 miles on flat roads to 30 or so miles on hills.

I know that I will never, ever be able to get rid of my blood glucose meter. and I know that I iwll probably have to continue to take insulin, albeit in reduced amounts, for the rest of my life. As long as I keep exercising (biking), however, I know that my A1c numbers will remain low and my health will continue to improve.

This is my ode to bike riding!