New study shows why electric bikes are great for managing type 2 diabetes
Over 30 million Americans are affected by type 2 diabetes, though it is far from a uniquely American health issue. Now though, a new study is shining light on just how electric bikes may be a key tool for helping treat the condition in adults.
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic medical condition that affects the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar levels. This condition has become increasingly prevalent in recent decades, largely attributed to lifestyle factors such as poor diet, lack of physical activity, and overall obesity rates. The sedentary nature of modern living, often combined with the consumption of high-calorie, processed foods, has unfortunately created an environment where type 2 diabetes thrives.
Many experts agree that addressing this health crisis requires a multifaceted approach, focusing on promoting healthier living habits around nutrition and activity.
Recently, a study at the University of Bristol investigated electric bicycles as a form of moderate intensity exercise that could help prevent and treat type 2 diabetes.
The key issue is that despite moderate physical activity being one of the best ways to counteract the effects of type 2 diabetes, those that suffer from it are also the least likely to engage in that critical exercise.
According to the authors of the study:
“Physical activity is a key component in the management of type 2 diabetes. However, this population have low rates of physical activity engagement. Electrically assisted cycling has been identified as a means through which to increase physical activity by incorporating activity into daily life, while overcoming some of the barriers to conventional cycling.”
In investigating the use of electric bike riding in a group of study participants who suffered from type 2 diabetes, the study’s authors explored how engaging in the sport was viewed by the e-bike riding participants compared to other forms of exercise.
The study found that “engaging in e-cycling was perceived as an easier way of managing their diabetes than diet or other types of exercise, largely due to the enjoyment of riding”.
Those readers that have tried electric bikes as a form of recreation or exercise won’t be surprised by these findings. Many people often discover that exercising on an electric bike is easier and more enjoyable, while still offering the benefits of regular physical activity.
The pedal-assist feature of electric bikes reduces the strain on muscles and joints, making it a more accessible option for individuals of varying fitness levels and age groups. That pedal assist allows riders to tackle hillier routes and ride longer distances without becoming as tired, encouraging them to stay active for longer periods.
Perhaps more importantly, electric bikes provide a sense of empowerment and freedom, as riders can adjust the level of assistance to match their energy levels each time they ride, ensuring a personalized and fun experience. That fun factor is in many ways enhanced since riders can maintain higher speeds and explore new areas, turning exercise from a chore into an adventure.
The findings of this study aren’t necessarily new, since study after study have shown that people who ride e-bikes get more exercise than those who ride pedal bikes due to riding longer and farther. But the study’s results speak to just how effective e-bikes can be for those with specific conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, for whom regular physical activity is even more important.
Researchers have consistently shown that when bike riders find the sport less grueling, they tend to go on longer rides. A 2019 study of over 10,000 adults across seven countries found that the Metabolic Equivalent Task minutes per week was measurably higher for electric bike riders than for pedal bike riders, resulting in even more exercise among e-bike riders.
That isn’t to say that riding a pedal bike isn’t a great way to engage in physical activity – it absolutely is! But for certain groups like those with type 2 diabetes, the advantages of electric bikes make them even more effective at ensuring that physical activity is performed repeatedly and enjoyably, giving riders the best chance for success.
via: road.cc
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![Chevy Bolt EUV goes full Boat Mode in Texas floodwaters [video]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/08/bolt_flood.png?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
Electric cars don’t have intakes and exhausts, so they can’t get hydrolocked in deep water the way ICE-powered cars can – but that doesn’t make them amphibious. Nobody told this Texan Chevy Bolt EUV owner that, and when they got caught on the wrong side of the floodwaters, they licked the stamp and sent it!
The recent catastrophic flooding in Texas has brought unimaginable tragedies and hardships to thousands of people who unquestionably deserve better, and living through something like that can lead people to make some rash decisions (I made it through the aftermaths of Hurricanes Andrew and Katrina, AMA). Rash decisions like pulling up to a tunnel flooded in nearly three feet of water, and deciding to stand on the gas.
Think I’m exaggerating? Watch this Chevy Bolt EUV go full “Boat Mode” as its driver decides that dealing with whatever unseen obstacle or deadly live wires concealed by the floodwaters are less annoying than having to find an alternative route for yourself.
Submerging an EV that wasn’t designed for it (or even a Cybertruck, which allegedly was), isn’t exactly advisable. In addition to the underwater threats, submerging the skateboard in water could damage sensitive electrical connectors, compromise battery seals, and cause shorts in circuit boards over time.
“Even more critically, water ingress into high-voltage systems can pose serious safety risks, including electrical faults or, in rare cases, thermal events,” writes Jonathan Lopez, over at GM Authority. “Although the Bolt EUV in this instance completed its soggy journey successfully, long-term effects may still emerge.”
In other words: don’t try this at home.
Electrek’s Take
Like, don’t try this at home … but it’s pretty awesome.
SOURCE | IMAGES: stormchaserhtx, via GM Authority.
If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
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Georgia BRIGHT, a statewide initiative to deliver affordable solar, kicked off its “No-Cost Solar Plan” in Atlanta yesterday, giving qualified homeowners a shot at roughly 400 fully prepaid rooftop-solar systems with zero upfront or maintenance costs. However, Georgia Bright’s No-Cost Solar Plan may lose its $156 million in grant money if the EPA steals back the Solar for All program’s entire $7 billion, which funded it.
On Earth Day (April 22) 2024, the Georgia BRIGHT Communities Coalition, including lead applicant Capital Good Fund, along with coalition member cities, Atlanta, Savannah, and Decatur, and dozens of other Georgia stakeholders, was allocated $156 million from Solar for All to bring solar to thousands of households statewide between now and mid-2029.
Families that earn 80% or less of their county’s Area Median Income can enter a drawing for the No-Cost Solar Plan now; a second drawing for another 400 systems is set for spring 2026.
“As the cost of living increases across our most vulnerable communities, this program will deliver significant savings to the households that need it most,” said Alicia Brown, director of Georgia BRIGHT.
Those savings are already showing up. Pilot participant Christine Difeliciantonio saw her power bill plunge on her Columbus home from $224 in June 2024 to $50 in June 2025 after her panels came online, and she says the added resilience eases her mind during storms.
Nonprofits are benefiting, too. Trees Atlanta had 140 panels installed on their headquarters last November in the pilot program; the rooftop array went live in March and is on track to save about $3,000 a year, the carbon equivalent of planting 28,000 trees over 25 years.
What’s next for Georgia BRIGHT …
Georgia BRIGHT’s other programs in the works include its Residential Solar Savings Plan, offering custom rooftop installs with no upfront cost and guaranteeing households at least 20% savings on day one after factoring in the modest monthly payments. Georgia BRIGHT is also developing Community Benefit Solar, which lets businesses, houses of worship, and apartment buildings go solar so long as they share part of the financial benefits – think grocery gift cards, help with utility bills, discounted daycare, or rent relief – with eligible neighbors for five years. Finally, a Utility-Led Community Solar initiative will send grants to local utilities so they can run shared-solar programs designed specifically for low-income customers.
These programs really make a difference in a state like Georgia, which doesn’t offer any other solar incentives.
… if the EPA doesn’t steal its money
The New York Times reported today that the Trump-led EPA is drafting letters to claw back the entire $7 billion Solar for All pot from 49 states, plus 11 nonprofit groups and Native American tribes. The grant money was awarded under President Biden’s 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. According to the Times‘ sources, the EPA plans to send termination notices this week, effectively erasing solar savings for nearly a million low-income families before the panels ever land on their roofs.
Legal groups are already gearing up for the fight. “If leaders in the Trump administration move forward with this unlawful attempt to strip critical funding from communities across the United States, we will see them in court,” Kym Meyer of the Southern Environmental Law Center told the Times.
If the EPA pulls the trigger on this cruel, senseless plan to steal solar from lower-income communities, it wouldn’t just kneecap Georgia’s new program – it would pull the rug out from under low-income solar projects nationwide. The fight over Solar for All is officially on. How about that energy emergency that Trump declared, eh?
Read more: This metro Atlanta factory roof is now a solar record-breaker
The 30% federal solar tax credit is ending this year. If you’ve ever considered going solar, now’s the time to act. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
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Tesla is in trouble, facing down hundreds of millions in fines on a single Autopilot wrongful death claim, accusations of covering up evidence, and plummeting sales in Europe, China, and the US. But, hey – that’s no reason to NOT give Elon a $29 billion bonus, right? Find out more on today’s troubling episode of Quick Charge!
We’re also helping Costco celebrate the first half-birthday of its EV marketplace, where you can get a great deal on a new Chevy Silverado EV capable of going more than one thousand miles on a single charge [insert 400 pages of fine print and disclaimers here –Ed.].
Today’s episode is brought to you by Retrospec, the makers of sleek, powerful e-bikes and outdoor gear built for everyday adventure. Quick Charge listeners can get an extra 10% off their next ride until August 14 with the exclusive code ELECTREK10, only at retrospec.com.
Source Links
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