Diabetes is not just a disease --- it's a lifestyle, if you want to keep it under control and stay as healthy as possible. Your doctor will advise you about checking your blood sugar, adjusting your diet and watching for signs of possible complications. And making an effort to exercise regularly should be another key part of your strategy to cope with diabetes successfully.
About Diabetes
Diabetics have high blood sugar because their bodies do not make enough insulin needed to process it or do not respond to insulin properly --- or both. Treatment depends on the type of diabetes and the severity of your blood sugar problems. Besides careful attention to diet, you may need to use insulin or other medications. According to the National Institutes of Health, poorly controlled diabetes puts you at risk for many complications, including coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, skin and eye problems, stroke and nerve damage.
Benefits of Exercise
Making exercise a habit can help you control your blood sugar levels, maintain a healthy weight and avoid high blood pressure, according to the National Institutes of Health. You'll also reduce your risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke. Other benefits include strengthening your bones and heart, keeping your joints flexible, boosting your energy and reducing stress.
Getting Started
The National Institutes of Health recommends that before you embark on an exercise regimen, you check with your health care provider. You might need advice on exercise choices, what kind of shoes to wear and monitoring your blood sugar. If possible, it's best to exercise at the same time every day, the NIH advises. Plan to stay hydrated with nonsweetened drinks. And if you can recruit a friend to exercise with, it might help you stick with it.
Which Exercise?
The American Diabetes Association recommends that you aim for 30 minutes of exercise most days and include three main types: aerobic exercise, strength training and stretching. An aerobic workout could involve walking briskly, dancing, swimming, an aerobics class, playing tennis or riding a stationary bike. For strength training you could use weights or exercise bands, and a stretching or yoga routine can help you stay flexible. Experiment and find activities you enjoy.
Precautions
Physical activity sometimes can lower blood sugar too much, making you feel shaky or faint. Talk to your doctor about whether you should deal with this by adjusting your medication before exercise or including a snack in your routine, the National Institutes of Health advises. Avoid lifting heavy weights if you have eye problems. Pay special attention to your feet. Tend to any sores or blisters promptly, and if nerve damage has made your feet numb, you might want to try swimming rather than walking. Always have a card or medical bracelet identifying you as diabetic, just in case of an emergency.
