Diabetes and Exercise – One Step at a Time
Everyone is busy. Everyone. So how can you incorporate exercise into an already hectic schedule without overextending yourself? Oh yeah, not to mention, do this while maintaining good blood sugar levels!
Lifestyle changes such as this one are well worth it. Better health is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself. I know what some of you are saying, “I’m a diabetic, but my weight is fine and my blood sugar is well maintained. Why should I exercise?” Or others may say, “I hate exercise!” Alright you whiny babies, listen up. Exercise is not always to lose weight. Some of us do have a little more fluff than others and could shed some pounds (no shame in that either). But for those that do not need to lose weight, there are plenty of reasons to develop an exercise program for yourself. According to the ADA (American Diabetes Association), below are some reasons.
Exercise can:
Improve blood sugar management
Lower blood pressure
Improve blood fat – cholesterol
Decrease the need for insulin or diabetes pills
Assist with weight loss and weight maintenance
Lower risk for other health problems like heart disease, stroke, cancers, bone loss
Increase energy
Improve sleep
Relieve stress
Build stronger bones and muscles
Improve flexibility
Good reasons, right? And remember, always talk to your doctor before starting any exercise program. He/she will definitely be able to assist you in this area. OK, now let’s talk about how tricky it is for some to do anything for fear sugar levels will drop too low or will be too high. First, if you suffer with low blood sugar, eat a snack before starting. If you exercise for a long stretch, always have some sort of carb (2-5 glucose tablets, fruit juice, or regular soft drink) to give your blood sugar a raise, advises the ADA. And for those with high blood sugar levels, always take your blood level before exercising and avoid times when your sugar is high as exercise will only push sugar levels higher. Learn your body and work with it, not against it.
Breaking Down Walls
The recommended amount of exercise for an adult is 30 minutes a day for at least 5 days a week.
We value and respect the experiences of all of our HERWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.
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