Exercise and diabetes sounds like it should come with alarm bells and high caution! But the reality is anything but.
All forms of exercise have been shown to be effective at reducing the risks and complications associated with diabetes. Resistance training in particularly is ideal because exercising muscles increase the need to use glucose for energy.
Muscle stimulation forces your body to utilize the additional circulating blood glucose. All types of aerobic exercise is also beneficial in managing blood glucose levels.
If you are searching for workout routines and are currently out of shape or have recently been diagnosed with diabetes, see your doctor before you begin any sort of physical training program.
Talk to your doctor about the physical activity you plan to start and any exercise precautions you may have. Your doctor should give you an examination, focusing on your heart and blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and the blood supply to your lower extremities, such as your feet.
When you’re in the gym, always wear your I.D. tag indicating that you are a diabetic, to insure proper treatment is provided in case there’s a problem when you’re exercising or you have an injury.
Exercise, Diabetes and Diet
The biggest concern that needs to be addressed for diabetics who take up a fitness program is what they should include in their diet.
A diabetic diet needs to include a variety of fruits and some low-glycemic index carbohydrates such as wild and/or brown rice, dried oats, baked potato, etc. (No sugar!) to help maintain blood sugar levels and increase the metabolism.
It is important to look out for lows in your blood glucose levels by regular testing.
On the whole a diabetic diet is pretty similar to a standard healthy diet with just a few variations. You may need to add in a snack or additional insulin, but nothing too out of the ordinary.
Fruits and yoghurt’s are ideal snacks because they cause fast absorption into the body.