I recently read that it is better for people with insulin resistance to exercise moderately and not get their heart rate too high. I guess it has something to do with how much glucose is burned.

So the other day I tried to slow it down on the treadmill and do a high incline instead, but my heart rate still went up to 150-160. Then I was starving the rest of the day - I just couldn't seem to get enough food and had terrible carb cravings.

So I'm guessing the moderate exercise theory could be true? Has anyone else heard of this?

I have not heard that theory. I'm not sure that there should be a relationship between being insulin resistant and exercise heart rate.

As far as how to exercise, I'm a believer in doing intervals. Do easy/moderate then a few minutes of really hard, then back to easy/moderate to recover then hard again. Repeat until done.

According to Bally's Fitness the incline treadmill burns the most calories of any machine in the gym. You're carrying your whole body weight up a hill. I have been doing cardio and I've have been starving and eating too many carbs. I'm trying upping my calories and fat, hopefully that will help. If you find any solutions let me know!

My treadmill has a calorie counter. It may not be super accurate. At zero incline it says I'm burning 130 calories per mile. So one hour (5mph) means 800 calories burned. At 15% incline, the highest it goes, it say I'm burning 450 calories per mile. One hour on the machine at that setting (3mph) means around 1350 calories burned.

I don't track my heart rate but I don't think that's a factor. On level ground I'm not using much of the quads. At 15% grade I'm working every bit of quad muscle.

I mis-typed. One hour at the zero grade burns 650 cals.

Susie - Do you have that quote? I've never heard that before. All I have ever heard is how wonderful exercise is for diabetics. It does help to lower blood sugar.

Without seeing the original quote, I can't say for definite, but I'd guess the moderate exercise thing is before of the belief that you only burn fat at lower intensity. Also, a lot of diabetics don't exercise at all, so moderate is better than nothing.

If you are used to exercise, then I'd vary between moderate and intense. Your heart is a muscle like any other, and needs progressive overload from time to time.