Authors
Kirk A. Abraham, Health and Exercise Science Program, Transylvania University, Lexington, KY, USA
Mackenzie N. Buckler, Health and Exercise Science Program, Transylvania University, Lexington, KY, USA
Connor B. Evans, Health and Exercise Science Program, Transylvania University, Lexington, KY, USA
Ava B. Hutt, Health and Exercise Science Program, Transylvania University, Lexington, KY, USA
Megan K. Wasson, Health and Exercise Science Program, Transylvania University, Lexington, KY, USA
Hannah E. Woggon, Health and Exercise Science Program, Transylvania University, Lexington, KY, USA
International Journal of Exercise Science 19(2): 1-10, 2026.
DOI: 10.70252/IJES2026203
Abstract
Alcohol increases insulin secretion in response to ingested carbohydrates and exercise enhances insulin sensitivity; therefore, we tested the hypothesis that the combination of wine and exercise would enhance glycemic control in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) or prediabetes. Eleven participants (8 women, 3 men; T2D n=5 [3 women, 2 men], prediabetes n=6 [5 women, 1 man]) completed four different 1-week treatment periods consisting of no alcohol and no exercise (Con), daily red wine with dinner and no exercise (Wine), no alcohol and daily exercise (60 min at 55% heart rate reserve; Ex), or daily wine with dinner and daily exercise (Ex + Wine). During the last three days of each treatment period, each participant wore a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to record blood glucose data. Mean 24-hr glucose levels, defined as the average of all CGM values collected at 5-min intervals over 3 consecutive days in each treatment period, were 130 ± 22.7, 130 ± 20.6, 122 ± 17.5, 121 ± 24.9 mg/dl for Con, Wine, Ex, and Ex + Wine treatments, respectively. Exercise lowered mean 24-hr glucose (p = 0.017), but wine had no effect. Dinner postprandial glucose (PPG) responses were reduced by wine (p = 0.003), but not exercise, and breakfast PPG responses were unaffected by either treatment. There was no wine-exercise interaction detected for any variable. These results suggest that one week of exercise lowers mean 24-hr glucose and that wine was associated with lower evening PPG responses after a mixed meal in this group of insulin resistant individuals.
Recommended Citation
Abraham, Kirk A.; Buckler, Mackenzie N.; Evans, Connor B.; Hutt, Ava B.; Wasson, Megan K.; Woggon, Hannah E. (2026) “Effects of Red Wine and Daily Exercise on Glycemic Control in Insulin Resistant Individuals,” International Journal of Exercise Science: Vol. 19 : Iss. 2, Pages 1-10.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.70252/IJES2026203