Diabetes is a disease in which the body cannot utilize insulin properly or cannot make enough insulin to break down sugar. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that helps convert sugar into energy. People with diabetes cannot process sugar, so sugar levels rise to alarming levels in the bloodstream. Exercise has emerged as an effective treatment for controlling and preventing diabetes, so it's important to know how rehabilitation therapy programs can benefit diabetics.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a major health care problem, affecting more than 25 million people in the United States. Diabetes comes in two forms: Type 1 diabetes is diagnosed during childhood and must be treated with insulin injections. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of the disease and can be treated with medication, insulin injections and/or lifestyle changes. Symptoms include excessive thirst, increased urination, blurred vision and increased appetite. Diabetes is associated with premature death and increases your risk for other conditions, including coronary artery disease, kidney failure and heart disease. Complications of diabetes include stroke, blindness and limb amputation.
Rehabilitation Programs
Diabetes rehabilitation programs make up the exercise part of most diabetes management programs offered through outpatient services, rehabilitation clinics and diabetes centers. Diabetes programs are specifically designed for people with diabetes and are often managed by certified diabetes educators, physical therapists and exercise physiologists. These rehab programs help increase muscle mass, burn calories and reduce blood sugar levels through a supervised exercise program. Diabetes rehab programs commonly include warm-up sessions, resistance training and aerobic exercises that help strengthen the heart. Diabetes management goals include blood sugar control, symptom reduction and a decreased risk of complications. Regular exercise helps you achieve these goals.
Benefits
Physical activity has a direct effect on the body and changes the way your body reacts to insulin. Diabetes rehab programs provide a regular fitness schedule for diabetics, resulting in an increased sensitivity to insulin's effects and lower blood sugar readings. The American Heart Association report that more than 80 percent of individuals with diabetes die from heart and blood vessel disease of some kind. Exercise reduces cholesterol levels, lowers blood pressure and reduces your risk of heart disease, so regular exercise is a critical part of preventing cardiac complications caused by diabetes. In addition, diabetes rehab programs improve flexibility, increase stamina and reduce your risk for falls.
Contraindications
Most diabetes rehabilitation programs follow the exercise guidelines established by the American Diabetes Association, but you still must see a diabetic specialist or family physician to verify that you can safely participate in a diabetes rehab program. Diabetes can cause eye conditions, coronary artery disease and heart disease, which can cause dangerous complications while exercising. Being obese and inactive for a long period of time also increases your risk of injury during physical activity. People with diabetes must wear proper fitting shoes, so see your podiatrist for a professional foot exam and shoe analysis. In addition, ask him to check your feet for blisters and sores prior to joining an exercise program.
