Exercise Tips for Those With Diabetes

Exercise Tips for Those With Diabetes

Diabetes can be tough disease to control. With a variety of symptoms and the need to regularly check one’s blood-sugar, proper diabetes management requires care and attention. Fortunately, there are steps that parents can take to help reduce the severity of the disease in themselves or in their children. In particular, exercise can significantly reduce many of the symptoms of diabetes. Here are a few tips.

Check with a doctor and know your blood sugar levels It is important for those suffering from diabetes to discuss their planned exercise regimens with their doctors before proceeding. Exercising with a high blood sugar level can be dangerous, and other symptoms of diabetes may cause complications with certain exercises. Advanced glucose monitoring devices such as those provided by  http://www.dexcom.com/ can help parents and kiddos ensure that they have a safe blood sugar level before and during exercise sessions.

Focus on cardiovascular health Cardiovascular exercise has the greatest return on investment; even those without diabetes will see strong health benefits. These exercises strengthen the heart and improve the body’s ability to circulate blood, which help those who exercise achieve greater endurance. For those with diabetes, better circulation helps the body regulate insulin levels. Anything that raises one’s heart rate qualifies as cardiovascular exercise, so playing football, running, bicycling and a wide range of other activities count. Those with diabetes should aim for at least 150 minutes of cardiovascular exercise per week.

Consider strength training and flexibility exercises In recent years, scientists have uncovered data that shows the benefits of strength training overlap with the benefits of cardiovascular exercise. Further, research has shown that strength training exercises help diabetic patients control their blood sugar levels. Coupled with flexibility exercises, strength training can improve patients’ overall health and fitness.

Strive to reduce or maintain your weight One of the leader aggravators of diabetes is excess weight and obesity; while engaging in cardiovascular and strength training exercises, patients should keep their weight in mind. Cardiovascular exercises burn calories, and strength training exercises help people add muscle that burns calories even when the patient is at rest. In addition to monitoring blood sugar levels, patients are encouraged to count how many calories they are eating and strive to reduce their weight to a healthy level.

Perhaps the most important tip for patients with diabetes is to engage in exercises that are enjoyable. Consistency is more important than intensity, and those with diabetes who are able to consistently engage in light exercise will reap more benefits that those who only occasionally engage in intensive exercise.

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