Muscle loss increases type 2 diabetes risk: Doctor explains why strength matters more than you think

A person can look slim, maintain the same weight for years and still be losing something that plays a major role in controlling blood sugar: muscle. This change can happen gradually, especially with age, reduced physical activity or long periods of sitting. And its effects may go beyond weaker arms, slower walking or difficulty climbing stairs.Muscles do much more than help the body move. They are also major users of glucose, the sugar circulating in the bloodstream. When muscle mass declines, the body may lose some of its capacity to clear glucose efficiently, potentially increasing the risk of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.