Exercise is an essential component of diabetes care and treatment. There are many benefits to making exercise a part of your diabetes self-management routine. Studies show that exercise has benefits in not only preventing the onset of diabetes, but also helping to control blood glucose levels in existing diabetes. Starting an exercise program does not have to be difficult or expensive, and can help to prevent complications from diabetes.
Benefits
The American Diabetes Association states that exercise can help people with type 2 diabetes by increasing insulin sensitivity -- the ability of the body to use insulin -- and help with weight loss and control. In both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, exercise can improve heart health by keeping cholesterol levels controlled, lowering blood pressure, and improving cardiovascular health. Exercise also can help to prevent loss of muscle mass and strength.
Types
Strength training, flexibility and aerobic exercise all have benefits for people with diabetes. Aerobic exercise includes activities that move the muscles and increase heart and breathing rate. Examples would include walking or running, dancing or riding a bicycle. Strength training works to build and strengthen muscle by using weights or resistance bands to create work for the muscles. Flexibility exercise, such as stretching, helps to provide a safe warm-up and cooldown for aerobic exercise or strength training.
Precautions
Include a warm-up and cooldown to prevent injury when you exercise. It's also important to be adequately hydrated. Drinking water before and during exercise can help to prevent dehydration. Proper care and protection of your feet is especially important, since foot injuries and problems can be complicated by diabetes. For people with type 1 diabetes, its recommended to avoid exercise when the blood glucose level is more than 250 mg/dl and ketosis is present. If ketosis is not present, but the blood glucose level is more than 300, it's advised to proceed carefully. In such cases, high blood glucose can actually be made worse by exercise, leading to dehydration and serious illness. People who use insulin need to have a plan to balance food intake, insulin and blood glucose levels with their chosen exercise routine.
Learning More
Seek the advice of your physician before proceeding with any new exercise plan. A diabetes educator is a health care provider who can work with you and your physician to establish an individualized exercise plan that is safe and effective. Work with your health care team to make a plan to balance medication, food intake and blood glucose levels with your exercise routine.
