Exercise is generally considered by many to be boring, time-consuming and an overall nuisance. But for individuals who are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, regular physical activity is extremely important. For these people, exercising has become an important aspect to help them reduce both their blood sugar and their body fat.
It is as important as the medication and a healthy diet a diabetic requires to help regulate and reduce their blood sugar levels... exercise is the final spoke of the management wheel. The major benefit of exercise for both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics is to prevent complications which affects the population of people with and without diabetes.
Exercise helps to prevent disease in several ways, it:
helps with weight loss in those overweight and diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes,
lowers blood pressure,
lowers cholesterol and triglyceride levels,
reduces stress levels, and also
lowers the need for insulin or oral medications.
But exercise can lower blood sugar levels too drastically, even if the weight remains constant. As with any other area of diabetes management, moderation is the key.
Aside from diet, exercise and regular physical activity is the safest, the most accepted and the most recommended method to reduce and regulate blood sugar levels for most people with Type 2 diabetes. Exercising also reduces the risk of further complications. But before a diabetic initiates an exercise routine, you should always talk to your doctor first to discuss what type of exercise you can, and cannot do.
Before starting a new exercise program, anyone with Type 2 diabetes who has not exercised previously should check with their doctor. You should check with a doctor if you are:
over the age of 35,
are obese,
have heart problems, or high blood pressure,
nerve damage,
kidney disease,
retinopathy, or
any other severe health issues
which would hamper an exercise routine. They should also receive recommendations as to what the proper starting point of activity should be.
Low-impact exercises are always the best for diabetics since they do not burn sugar too rapidly. When a diabetic performs high-impact exercise they risk going into a hypoglycemic episode. Now, you have not only cut your routine short, but you have a whole new problem to deal with.
It is found the blood sugar of a diabetic drops after exercise and lowers for the next day or two. When one exercises, the muscles become even more sensitive to insulin and more glucose is absorbed from the blood. However, different results are seen in different people. The results are highly individualized and can vary from person to person. In some cases, exercise can even raise blood sugar levels.
It is important to start out slowly and work your way up. You also need to check your blood sugar after exercise... even if you feel fine. Never exercise if your blood sugar is higher than 270 mg/dL (15 mmol/L) or if you are feeling unwell. And don't forget to have a healthy snack (fruit or a sandwich) at the right time.
Apart from reducing blood sugar, exercise also helps in lowering blood pressure. High blood pressure is directly related to serious health conditions like strokes, heart attacks, kidney failure, eye problems and other complications.