BENEFITS OF EXERCISE FOR DIABETES

Health Benefits of Exercise for Diabetes
By Donovan Baldwin

The most common types of diabetes are known as Type 1 and Type 2.

Type 1 diabetes, also referred to as "adolescent diabetes", differs from Type 2 in that, in Type 1 diabetes, the body stops producing insulin altogether and is often a specific condition triggered, in most cases, by heredity. On the other hand, Type 2 diabetes is a condition normally diagnosed in older adults and occurs as the body stops producing enough insulin or as the individual becomes resistant to their own body's insulin. Type 2 diabetes is often directly, or indirectly, linked to lifestyle, such as poor eating habits, lack of exercise, and weight gain.

Blood Sugar Levels Increase

Although the causes and onset ages may tend to be different, the health effects of diabetes of either kind can be influenced by certain lifestyle choices. In either case, however, you lose your ability to adequately use sugar. Your blood sugar levels increase due to your body's difficulty in transporting sugar into the cells and out of the blood stream.

Fortunately, there are several ways to lower your blood sugar levels. These methods include diet, exercise, and medication. While many are looking for reasons to exercise, for the diabetic individual, life itself could be the reason.

The Health Benefits of Exercise for Diabetes

It has been proven again and again that exercise is a very important part of diabetic management for both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics.  People with Type 1 will quickly find that regular exercise helps to maintain insulin sensitivity while helping to prevent the accumulation of excess weight, and also increases the use of glucose by muscles.

Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes

It is a fact that there is no way to prevent Type 1 diabetes. The good news is that it is possible to prevent Type 2 diabetes. Things to consider when you attempt to prevent the onset of Type 2 diabetes are regular exercise and supplementation with vitamins and herbs that will help to prevent insulin resistance and assist with proper control of your weight.

Minimizing Complications of Diabetes

Not only will exercise help directly with diabetic management by lowering blood sugar levels and maintaining insulin sensitivity, but it will also help minimize several of the complications that can occur in a diabetic individual. It doesn't take a lot of exercise either. Research has shown that walking just 30 minutes each day can diminish the possibility of developing Type 2 diabetes.

Circulatory Problems and Exercise

Almost all diabetics tend to develop circulatory problems.  Exercise can help lower blood pressure and improve circulation throughout the entire body.  Since people who have diabetes tend to have poor blood flow to their lower body areas, and feet in particular, improved circulation is a great health benefit for diabetics.

Even though there are risks associated with exercise, the potential benefits will outweigh the risks. Exercise does indeed lower blood sugar levels, so those with diabetes should measure their blood sugar both before and after they exercise. Since your body uses more sugar while you exercise and makes you more sensitive to insulin, there is a risk of blood sugar becoming too low and causing hypoglycemia as a result.

Keeping Others Informed

If you are diabetic and choose to exercise, whenever you exercise, it is important you let others know that you are diabetic. They should also be informed about what they should do in the event of hypoglycemia.  To be on the safe side, you should always carry candy or fruit juice with you to treat low blood sugar should it occur.

During and after exercise, you should pay careful attention to how you feel, since rapid heart beat, increased sweating, feeling shaky, or hunger can be signals that your blood sugar levels are getting too low.

Health Benefits of Exercise

With diabetic management and treatment, exercise is very important.  Exercise will help with blood sugar control when the muscles use more glucose and the body becomes more sensitive to insulin. Exercise can also help prevent and minimize common diabetic complications which include heart problems, high blood pressure, and circulatory deficiencies.

Exercise as a Daily Routine

If you are a diabetic, exercise should be part of your daily routine. You should always exercise at a slow pace and never overdo it. Also, you should exercise around people you know or at a gym, so there will always be people around you to help you in case something does go wrong.

Finally, being a diabetic doesn't have to hinder your life or your performance, as exercise can help you get your life back on track and heading in the right direction - a healthy direction.

Want to know more about athletic performance and nutrition? Click here for an in-depth article on performance nutrition.

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P. S. If you want to learn more about why Diets Don't Work, please click here.

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