📊 Can a Short EMS Session Improve Blood Sugar?
(New 2025 Study from Top US & Australian Universities Explained for Everyone)
Welcome back to the ORIEMS FIT Research Digest, your easy‑to‑read window into current science. Each post in this series brings you a different, interesting study so that you can learn something new. We do not offer medical advice; instead, we translate complex research into plain language for anyone—from a 14‑year‑old student to a 70‑year‑old retiree. At the bottom of each post we include a link to the original study so that you can download the full PDF, fact‑check our summary or collect the article if you love doing your own research.
This post explores a 2025 study on neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES)—a form of electrical muscle stimulation (EMS)—and how a single 30‑minute session affected blood sugar and energy usage in sedentary adults with high blood sugar.
🧠 Questions & Answers: Understanding the Study
1. Who Did This Research and When?
The study was carried out in 2025 by a team led by Sudip Bajpeyi and Jehu N. Apaflo, together with ten other scientists.
2. Where Are the Researchers From?
Most authors are from the Metabolic, Nutrition, and Exercise Research (MiNER) Laboratory at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) in the USA. Collaborators came from Victoria University in Melbourne, Australia, and Kansas Medical Center in the USA. These universities are well‑known for human physiology and diabetes research.
3. How Prestigious Are They and Who Funded This?
UTEP’s MiNER Lab conducts cutting‑edge metabolic research, Victoria University’s Institute for Health and Sport is respected internationally, and Kansas Medical Center is a major US medical hub. Funding came from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the J. Edward and Helen M. C. Stern Endowed Professorship, Dodson Research Grant, Texas American College of Sports Medicine Student Grant, and the American Physiological Society’s SURF Fellowship. Because large national institutes support it, the study is considered trustworthy.
4. What Is This Research About?
It explored whether 30 minutes of NMES (a form of EMS) could reduce blood sugar and boost energy use in overweight or obese adults with high blood sugar. Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation involves applying electrical currents through electrodes on your muscles, causing them to contract without voluntary movement. Researchers wondered if these contractions could imitate exercise and help control glucose.
5. Who Was Studied?
Fifty‑six adults aged 18–60 participated. Nineteen were men and 37 were women. About 86 % were of Hispanic origin. All were overweight or obese (average BMI around 34.8 kg/m²) and had fasting blood sugar above 100 mg/dL (meaning prediabetes). They were sedentary—doing less than 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week. People taking diabetes medications, smoking, pregnant or with conditions that affect blood sugar were excluded.
6. What Method Was Used?
Participants first followed a standardised healthy diet to control for food effects. On the test day, electrodes were placed on both quadriceps (thigh) muscles. The Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation device delivered 50 Hz electrical pulses for 30 minutes at intensities between 1–120 mA with a 10‑second contraction followed by 30‑second rest. Everyone wore a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) that tracked their glucose for 48 hours—covering both the stimulation day and a control day without stimulation. Energy expenditure and carbohydrate use were measured with an indirect calorimetry device (hood and gas sensors).
7. What Were the Positive Findings?
Only positive, EMS‑related results are listed here.
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Lower Blood Sugar: After 30 minutes of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation , participants’ glucose dropped from 116.2 ± 2.7 mg/dL to 113.2 ± 2.5 mg/dL.This reduction is statistically significant (p < 0.0001).
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Reduced Glucose Variability: The CGM showed smaller glucose fluctuations. The 24‑hour glucose variability on the stimulation day was 18.0 ± 1.0 mg/dL versus 20.0 ± 1.2 mg/dL on the control day. Lower variability is associated with better metabolic stability.
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Higher Energy Burn: Energy expenditure rose from 18.8 ± 0.3 kcal/kg/day to 19.0 ± 0.3 kcal/kg/day during Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation . In the first five minutes, it peaked at 19.5 ± 0.4 kcal/kg/day.
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More Carbs Used: The respiratory exchange ratio (RER)—a measure of fuel usage—climbed from 0.79 ± 0.01 to 0.80 ± 0.01, and in the first five minutes reached 0.82. Higher RER means the body relied more on carbohydrates for energy.
8. What Do These Numbers Mean?
In plain language:
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Blood sugar dropped by about 3 mg/dL after half an hour of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation . Even small reductions matter if your blood sugar is often high.
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Glucose swings became gentler. Large peaks and dips can stress the body. A drop from 20 mg/dL to 18 mg/dL in variability suggests steadier sugar levels.
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Calories burned ticked up. A rise of roughly 0.2 kcal/kg/day shows the body used more energy during Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation .
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Muscles burned more sugar. When RER increased, it meant the muscles were using carbohydrates instead of fats; that’s exactly what happens in normal exercise.
9. Why Might EMS Help Certain Problems?
For people who are overweight, sit a lot or have joint pain, exercising can be hard. Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation makes muscles contract while you relax. This “passive exercise” could offer several benefits:
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Improving blood sugar control. The study showed a reduction in fasting glucose and smaller fluctuations
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Boosting metabolism temporarily. More calories burned and carbs used may help with weight control.
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Reducing barriers. Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation is done while lying down and does not rely on joints, so it’s accessible for those with limited mobility.
10. How Might This Help EMS Users?
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People with prediabetes could use EMS to support their blood sugar management alongside diet and exercise.
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Busy individuals who cannot exercise regularly might enjoy short Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation sessions for a metabolic boost.
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Seniors or those with pain might find EMS a gentle alternative to traditional workouts.
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Hispanic and other high‑risk groups may have culturally or economic barriers to exercise; home‑based EMS devices could offer an affordable and convenient option.
🧾 Study Details at a Glance
🔗 Link to Original Study
If you’d like to read the full research article yourself, it’s freely available from the publisher. You can download the PDF or view it online here: Original Study on Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation and Blood Sugar.
🗨️ Join the Conversation
Have you ever tried EMS or NMES? Do you think half‑hour sessions could help you or someone you know? Share your thoughts below—we’d love to hear from you!
About ORIEMS FIT RESEARCH DIGEST
Oriems Fit is a 100 % Australian, award‑winning brand recognised as “Year’s Best” in 2024 and 2025 by Australia’s leading product review authority. We specialise in the Wide‑Range Targeted Muscle Stimulator, enhanced with EMS technology. Our devices support muscle engagement, relaxation and general wellness. Whether you are an energetic athlete or someone with limited mobility, our goal is to ensure nothing stops you from enjoying the benefits of EMS.
Through the ORIEMS FIT Research Digest, we share new and interesting research each week to spark curiosity and empower readers to start their own learning journeys. We avoid medical claims and provide simplified explanations with links to original papers so you can explore further.
⚠️ Disclaimer
This blog post is for informational and recreational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment. For full details on our disclaimer, visit: https://oriems.fit/blogs/research-digest/disclaimer
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