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Diabetes and exercise:

Why Should You Exercise?
The therapeutic use of exercise for diabetes mellitus was prescribed as early as 600 BC by the Indian physician Sushruta, Today exercise is recognized as one of the established principles of diabetes treatment.

We all know exercise is important for everyone’s health, and it can be especially important if you have diabetes.

How does exercise work on diabetes?

• Exercise can lower the blood sugar and improve the body’s ability to use glucose. With regular exercise, the amount of insulin needed decreases.
• Exercise can also help reverse the resistance to insulin that occurs as a result of being overweight.
• Exercise improves risk factors for heart disease and decreases the risk of heart problems. Exercise promotes the good cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), which is protective against heart disease. Blood pressure is also lowered through exercise
• Exercise, when combined with a meal plan, has the ability to control Type II diabetes without the need for other medications.

What can exercise do?
In addition to the benefits specific to diabetes, a person with diabetes will experience the same benefits and enjoyment everyone else gains from exercise.

• Improved Physical Fitness. Exercise increases the efficiency of the heart, lungs and circulatory system both at rest and with exercise. The body’s improved ability to transport oxygen provides increased stamina and endurance. You have more energy for greater productivity at work and reserve energy to do the leisurely things you enjoy each day.
• Weight Control. Exercise can help you to lose weight or maintain your weight. Exercise burns excess calories which are stored as fat cells
• Psychological Benefits. Exercise is a means of dealing with life’s everyday stresses. It also aids in relieving depression and building self-confidence. Through exercise, you have more energy, you are more relaxed and you feel less fatigued.

Before beginning an exercise program, it is important to check with your doctor. It is all the more essential if you are 35 years of age and/or have had diabetes for 10 years or more.

Your blood sugars must be adequately controlled before beginning a new program in order to produce the desired blood sugar results.

So Why Exercise?
A regular exercise program can bring dramatic results. If you exercise properly, you can lower blood sugar levels and improve your blood glucose control. You can also maximize weight loss and decrease your risk of heart disease. An exercise program should be individually tailored and designed to compliment your lifestyle and to achieve your desired goals. This requires the proper adjustment of your insulin and extra food (snack) consumption. Many factors such as the time of day you exercise or the type and duration of your exercise will determine whether adjustments should be made in your insulin dose or your meal plan.

Getting Started
Exercise is beneficial for most people. But it is especially important for people with diabetes. It does not matter how old you are or how long you have had diabetes -- it can still help you better control your blood glucose and overall health. What is important is that you pick an exercise that you enjoy.

Tips on Exercise

• Consult your doctor before starting any exercise program.
• If you are over 35 you may need a stress test.
• Test your blood glucose before and after exercise.
• Do not exercise if blood glucose is over 240 and there are ketones in your urine.
• If blood glucose is over 240 but no ketones are present, you should follow these guidelines:
• Type I: Do not exercise if blood glucose is 300 or more
• Type II: Do not exercise if blood glucose is 400 or more
• Plan exercise to prevent low blood sugar reactions
• Exercise 1 - 1 1/2 hours after eating
• Check blood glucose before and after exercise and follow snack guidelines
• Always carry a carbohydrate snack with you (Glucose tablets, juice, etc.)
• Drink plenty of fluids
• Wear shoes and equipment that fits well

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