Exercise could reduce inflammation that could lead to depression and diabetes after recovering from SARS-CoV-2. This is the COVID-19 virus, according to the findings of a study.

Researchers from the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in the US found that it’s not known how many people infected by the virus SARS-CoV-2 are suffering from Long COVID, which is a set of debilitating symptoms that can last for a long time after the person has recovered from the illness.

The estimates vary, however, between 15 and 90% of patients infected by the virus suffer from the disease according to the researchers. “We know that Long COVID causes depression, and we know that it can increase blood glucose levels to the point where people develop diabetic ketoacidosis, a potentially life-threatening condition common among people with type 1 diabetes,” said Candida Rebello, a researcher scientist at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center. “Exercise can aid in treating this. Exercise helps reduce the inflammation that can lead to an increase in blood sugar levels and the progression and development of clinical depression and diabetes,” Rebello said.

As per the US Centers for Disease Control Long COVID can be described as “a constellation of other debilitating symptoms” such as headaches, brain fog and fatigue that may persist for months following an individual recovers from the initial infection.

“You don’t need to do a marathon, or even walk one mile at a fast pace. Walking slowly can be a great way to exercise,” Rebello said.

“Ideally you’d perform a 30-minute workout exercise. However, if you’re able to perform just 15 minutes of exercise at one stretch Try to complete two 15-minute sessions.” she said.

The study found that taking 15 minutes of walking per day is sufficient for a start, but individuals can gradually increase to the recommended amount of exercise.

“We know that physical activity is a key component to a healthy life,” said Pennington Biomedical’s Director John Kirwan, a co-author of the research paper.

“This research shows that exercise can be used to break the chain reaction of inflammation that leads to high blood sugar levels, and then to the development or progression of type 2 diabetes,” Kirwan said.