Diabetes is a condition where the body either cannot produce adequate amounts of insulin -- type 1 diabetes -- or cannot effectively use the insulin that it does have -- type 2 diabetes. Insulin is a hormone that's produced by the pancreas, which the body uses to convert glucose in the bloodstream to glycogen, which is then either stored or used for energy.
Benefits
Since diabetes limits your ability to convert glucose into glycogen, your blood sugar levels may fluctuate in unhealthy ways. A doctor may prescribe medication to control your fasting blood sugar levels. Diabetes treatment may also include management, education and regular exercise. The benefits of exercise in controlling blood sugar levels depend on the type of activity, duration of exercise and intensity. Exercise affects your metabolic rate, your cardiovascular strength and your hormone levels.
Types
Consult your physician before beginning any type of exercise program. For diabetics, physicians usually recommend such cardio workouts as cycling, running and aquatic exercise. Aquatic exercise, including swimming and running while chest-deep in water, provides benefits with low risk of injury, as the buoyancy of the water all but eliminates impact. You can also reduce impact on your joints by using an elliptical machine for running or jogging. Align your meal schedules with your workouts, and don't exercise on an empty stomach. Your insulin schedule could also affect the timing of your exercise program. Carefully monitored exercise may help you manage diabetes as well as increase your strength, flexibility, heart health and coordination.
Exercise and Medication
More than 25 years of research supports exercise as an aid in moderating blood sugar levels. A study published in "Diabetic Care," a journal of the American Diebetic Association, examined the effects of moderate exercise in 12 persons with insulin-depending diabetes. Researchers compared the effects of exercise on participants who received their regular insulin dose the evening before a workout to those who received insulin during the exercise. All participants spent 45 minutes riding a bicycle at 50 percent of the maximum oxygen consumption. The exercise most benefited the fasting glucose levels of participants who received their insulin during exercise. If you take insulin, ask your doctor about the best way to coordinate your medication and exercise schedule.
Fasting
The term "fasting exercise" refers to the timing of exercise based on your meal and medication schedule, as well as the effect of exercise on your fasting glucose levels. "Fasting exercise" does not mean you should exercise while fasting. On the contrary, adequate food intake helps you avoid sudden drops in your blood sugar levels during exercise. Although exercise may help control diabetes, use caution when launching a new workout routine. Discuss your exercise plan with your doctor and make certain that anyone who helps you with your diet and exercise program -- a registered dietitian or fitness trainer, for instance -- understands your condition.
References
- MedlinePlus: Fasting Exercise for Diabetes
- Aquatic Therapy and Rehab Institute: Diabetes and Aquatic Exercise
- "Diabetic Care"; American Diabetic Association: Metabolic Response to Fasting Exercise in Adolescent Insulin-dependent Diabetic Subjects Treated With Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion and Intensive Conventional Therapy; A. Schiffrin, et al.; May 1984
- Fitness Black Book: Exercise and Diabetes -- What Types of Exercise Help the Most?
