Benefits of Diabetic Exercise
For a person with diabetes, regular exercise is especially important. It helps control the blood sugar levels and high blood pressure. People with diabetes are prone to high blood pressure and heart diseases, so those who exercise daily are less likely to suffer from heart attacks or stroke.
Healthy fitness routines help control blood glucose levels because exercising muscle cells use more sugar and oxygen than those at rest. It increases the body’s sensitivity to insulin, making it more responsive to insulin treatments and insulin that’s naturally produced by the body.
There are two main types of common exercise for people with diabetes. One is aerobic exercise that includes brisk walking, dancing, cycling, swimming, jogging, team sports, etc. This type of exercise makes our heart and lungs stronger, lowers blood pressure and blood lipids. Another is anaerobic exercise that usually involves some weight training which builds muscle cells.
Before you start any exercise routine, it’s important that you select the right type of exercise that’s suitable for you. If you’re out of shape or have been recently diagnosed of having diabetes, then you should consult your physician before starting an exercise program.
When choosing an exercise routine it’s important to bear in mind that you must not put unnecessary stress on your feet. You should try to avoid activities such as running, jogging, or jumping that could possibly cause injury to the feet. Diabetes can cause a nervous disorder called diabetic neuropathy that results to the weakening of the nerves. The feet are usually the most affected part so swimming, cycling and walking are more reasonable choices.
Start with less strenuous exercises first since it could elevate blood pressure and may even cause hypoglycaemia. Always remember to warm up before starting any physical activity. Any sudden activity imposes pressure on the heart. Do some light stretching for at least 5 minutes to prepare your muscles.
Research shows that walking daily can cut down the risk of prematurely dying. People who walked for at least two hours a week had nearly a 40% reduction in death from all causes. Walking is a cardiovascular exercise, it makes you breathe heavily and you can feel your heart working harder. But make sure it does not lead to palpitation. If you think you’re becoming too tired then slow down a bit. You wouldn’t want to overexert yourself.
Carry enough sweets with you at all times. Chocolate is a good source of sugar and an immediate charger for your body. Too much physical exercise may drastically reduce blood sugar levels that could lead to fatigue. Chocolate could help normalize your state. Just make sure you’re not tempted to eat more than you need to.
Physical exercise is known to prolong life and allow us to live healthier lives. It prevents developing heart diseases and certain cancers. But for diabetics this can be tricky because of the unpredictability of the disease. Just like with the diabetes diet, it must be carefully monitored. Too much food consumption could lead to stroke and heart diseases, but not enough food consumption could also lead to hypoglycaemia.
Exercise is good for counteracting diabetes, but too much exercise could also bring dire consequences to a person’s health. Everything must be done in moderation. So regularity, duration and intensity of the exercise must be considered.
