Many people diagnosed with diabetes are told to exercise more. Their doctors will recommend this because it can help you to keep your diabetes under better control, and make managing your blood sugar easier.
How can exercise help my diabetes?
There are many ways that exercise can help your diabetes, for example, exercise can help control your weight and lower your blood sugar level. It is also important because it lowers your risk of heart disease, which is a condition that is common in people who have diabetes. Exercise can also help you feel better about yourself and increase your overall health.
What kind of exercise should you do?
The type of exercise you should do will depend largely on your condition, and on what you were like before you were diagnosed with diabetes. It is best if you talk to your doctor about what kind of exercise is right for you. Often times the type of exercise you can do will depend on whether you have any other health problems, and you doctor will be able to assess your physical ability and guide you in the best direction.
Most doctors recommend aerobic exercise, which makes you breathe more deeply and makes your heart work harder, this helps with strengthening your heart, as well as getting your blood healthier. Aerobic exercises are exercise like walking, jogging, aerobic dance or bicycling.
Aerobic exercise is a great idea, but there are different types you can do depending on your condition. For example, if you have problems with the nerves in your feet or legs, your doctor may want you to do a type of exercise that won’t put stress on your feet. Such as exercises like swimming, bicycling, rowing or chair exercises. These type of exercises give you the same benefit, but with less stress on your body.
It really does not matter what kind of exercise you do, but you should always warm up before you start and cool down when you’re done. How do you warm up? To warm up, spend 5 to 10 minutes doing a low-intensity exercise such as walking. Then gently stretch for another 5 to 10 minutes so that you do not pull any muscles or make life unbearably sore the following day. Repeat these steps after exercising to cool down, it does not take long and will make you feel so much better.
Are there any risks to exercising for people with diabetes?
The benefits of exercise outweigh the risks by a long shot, but there are still risks. For example, exercise changes the way your body reacts to insulin. Regular exercise makes your body more sensitive to insulin, and your blood sugar level may get too low (called hypoglycemia) after exercising. So, because you have diabetes, you may need to check your blood sugar level before and after exercising. Your doctor can tell you what your blood sugar level should be before and after exercise, and if you need to take any measures before or after exercise to keep yourself in a good level.
One thing your doctor may suggest is that if your blood sugar level is too low or too high right before you plan to exercise, it’s better to wait until the level improves. It is especially important to watch your blood sugar level if you exercise in really hot or cold conditions, because the temperature changes how your body absorbs insulin. So, be conscious, but do not let it stop you from exercising.
Just be sure to pay attention to how you’re feeling during exercise. Symptoms that indicate you may be having a problem while exercising is that you may feel a change in your heartbeat, suddenly sweat more, feel shaky or anxious, or feel hungry. When you feel this way, you should stop exercising and follow your doctor’s advice about how to treat hypoglycemia.
For people with diabetes, exercise is great if you do the following:
– Talk to your doctor about the right exercise for you.
– Check your blood sugar level before and after exercising.
– Make sure your feet are in god condition for exercise.
– Wear the proper shoes and socks so as not to cause feet problems.
– Drink plenty of fluid before, during and after exercising.
– Warm up before exercising and cool down afterward.
– Have a snack handy in case your blood sugar level drops too low (talk to your doctor about what to look for and do).