RecruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Exercise Timing and Postprandial Glucose Responses

This study is for healthy, active young adults aged 18-35. We're investigating if the timing of your exercise makes a difference to your blood sugar levels after meals. Participants will do endurance exercise, like a vigorous run, at different times – either before or after breakfast or dinner. There will also be days without exercise for comparison. For every part of the study, you'll wear a device that continuously checks your blood sugar. We'll give you standard meals, and then monitor your blood sugar after breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This helps us understand the best way to time exercise for healthy blood sugar responses across the day.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

Technical University of Munich

Enrolment target

Start

01 Apr 2026

Estimated completion

01 Aug 2026

Exercise Timing Postprandial Glucose

What is this study about?

This study is looking into something important for your health: how your blood sugar changes after you eat. We specifically want to find out if the timing of when you exercise around your meals makes a difference.

Imagine you eat breakfast, and then your body starts breaking down the food into sugar. This sugar goes into your blood. We're testing whether a vigorous run (like a 45-minute jog) before or after breakfast, or before or after dinner, changes how high your blood sugar goes and how quickly it comes back down. We'll also compare these exercise days to a day when you don't exercise at all.

To do this, healthy and active young adults will take part. You'll wear a small device that constantly monitors your blood sugar. We'll provide you with all your meals, and they'll be the same on different study days. By looking at these blood sugar readings, we hope to understand the best ways to fit exercise into your daily routine to help keep your blood sugar healthy.

Key takeaways

Find out how exercise timing affects your blood sugar.
Help future research on healthy lifestyle choices.
Requires regular vigorous running and following a strict meal plan.
You'll wear a continuous blood sugar monitor.
Participation lasts approximately two weeks.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for healthy men and women between the ages of 18 and 35. You should be physically active, meaning you regularly do endurance exercises like running, and you should be able to run vigorously for 45 minutes without stopping. Your weight should also be within a healthy range for your height.

It's important that you don't have any long-term illnesses or conditions that affect your body's sugar levels, and you shouldn't be taking any medicines that might interfere with how your body handles sugar. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you won't be able to join. We also need you to be a non-smoker.

Finally, you need to be able to follow all the study instructions carefully, which includes eating specific meals at set times, doing the exercise sessions, and wearing a blood sugar monitor. Your usual wake-up time should also fit with having breakfast at 8 AM.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you between 18 and 35 years old?
Do you regularly do endurance exercise and can run vigorously for 45 minutes?
Do you have a healthy weight for your height?
Do you not have any ongoing health conditions affecting your sugar levels, and are you not taking related medications?
Are you a non-smoker?
Can you commit to fixed meal times and exercise sessions?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you join this study, you'll take part in five different study conditions over about two weeks. This means you'll experience each of the following: a vigorous run before breakfast, a run after breakfast, a run before dinner, a run after dinner, and a recovery day with no exercise. The order of these days will be mixed up for each person.

On study days, you'll do a 45-minute run outdoors. We will provide all your meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) which you'll eat at set times (8 AM, 1 PM, and 6 PM). Throughout the study, you'll wear a small continuous glucose monitoring device, which painlessly tracks your blood sugar levels. We'll also ask you to take photos of your meals to make sure you're eating what's provided at the correct times. There are no study medications involved. After completing all five conditions, your involvement in the study will be finished.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study could help us learn more about how exercise timing affects blood sugar, which could benefit many people in the future. You'll also learn more about your own body's response to exercise and food. Potential risks are generally low, as the exercise is similar to what many active people already do. However, as with any vigorous exercise, there's a small risk of muscle soreness or minor injury. You also might find the fixed meal times and wearing the glucose monitor a little restrictive. You are free to withdraw from the study at any time without giving a reason, and it will not affect any future medical care.

Locations (1)

Technical University of Munich
Verified postcode
München, Germany· Recruiting

Common questions

What kind of exercise will I be doing?

You'll be doing a vigorous 45-minute run outdoors. It's similar to a fast jog.

Do I have to eat special food?

Yes, we will provide all your meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) on study days, and you'll need to eat them at set times.

How will my blood sugar be checked?

You'll wear a small, comfortable device that continuously monitors your blood sugar levels throughout the study period.

How long will the study take?

You'll participate in five different study conditions over a total of about 14 days.

Will I know my own blood sugar results?

Yes, you will be able to see your blood sugar readings from the continuous glucose monitor.

How to find out more

Christoph Höchsmann, PD Dr.

christoph.hoechsmann@tum.de +49 89 289 24488 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.