Diabetes and Exercise: 6 Reasons Why Exercise is Good for Diabetes Sufferers.
Diabetes is a condition in which your body can't produce or properly use insulin. Insulin's main role is to regulate the amount of sugar in your blood.
If you have diabetes, these differences in sugar levels can lead to serious health complications like heart disease and blindness. One way to control your diabetes is through exercise. Exercise has been shown to help people with diabetes manage their blood sugar levels, lower their cholesterol, and reduce their risk for developing other health problems. Read on to learn 6 reasons why exercise is good for people with diabetes.
The link between diabetes and exercise
It's important to maintain a healthy weight and get regular exercise to reduce your risk for diabetes.
One way to help control your diabetes is through exercise. Exercise has been shown to help people with diabetes manage their blood sugar levels, lower their cholesterol, and reduce their risk for developing other health problems.
Many people with diabetes find the right balance of diet and exercise difficult or impossible. If you're struggling to maintain a healthy lifestyle, don't give up! In recent years, more programs have been created specifically for people with diabetes that can help you manage your condition by incorporating both diet and exercise into your daily routine.
Incorporating exercise into your life when you have diabetes will allow you to live a longer, healthier life. Read on to learn more about why this is so important!
Sugar levels and insulin
If you have diabetes, your body can't produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that usually regulates the amount of sugar in your blood.
When someone has diabetes, there are differences in sugar levels. Exercise can help you manage your blood sugar levels and lower cholesterol.
Since people with diabetes often have trouble regulating their blood sugar levels, exercise is an important component of managing their condition. It helps to regulate insulin production and glucose uptake, two key parts of managing diabetes.
Exercise stimulates the release of more insulin from the pancreas, which helps to regulate blood sugar levels by bringing glucose into cells. With better regulation, people with diabetes are less likely to experience hyperglycemia (too much sugar) after meals or any time their blood glucose level spikes too high.
Exercise also reduces the risk for other health problems like heart disease and obesity. When combined with healthy eating habits, it can help people with diabetes live long and healthy lives!
How exercise helps with diabetes
Exercise can help lower your blood sugar levels. It also helps maintain a healthy weight, which is crucial to controlling diabetes. You may have heard that exercise can help improve your mood and reduce stress and anxiety, and this is true for people with diabetes as well. Exercise has been shown to increase the number of insulin receptors in your muscles and it helps your cells absorb glucose from the bloodstream better.
It's important to remember that if you have diabetes, you should always consult with a doctor before starting an exercise regimen. Your doctor may advise you not to exercise at all or to take certain precautions when exercising like wearing compression socks when playing sports or taking breaks every 30 minutes while exercising.
But for many people with diabetes, exercise can be a great way to keep their symptoms under control and their lives healthier overall.
Exercise prepares your body for diabetes
One of the main ways exercise benefits people with diabetes is by preparing the body to handle the condition. This means that exercising before you are diagnosed with diabetes can help strengthen your muscles and increase your aerobic fitness level.
People who exercise also have lower insulin levels in their blood, which helps them maintain their blood sugar levels more easily. However, it's important to know that exercise can't cure diabetes. Exercise will only prepare you for the condition.
Exercise is also good for your mental health, so you'll feel better about yourself and be able to manage stress better. You may also find that you sleep better when you exercise regularly.
What you should know about exercising with diabetes
People with diabetes should be careful when starting an exercise program. The American Diabetes Association recommends consulting your healthcare provider for advice on how to safely include exercise in your treatment plan.
If you decide to start exercising, the ADA advises that you take these precautions:
* Always check your blood sugar levels before and after working out.
* When starting a new exercise regimen, gradually increase your activity level to avoid injury or sudden spikes in blood sugar levels.
* Monitor your blood sugar levels carefully. If you experience symptoms like confusion or excessive thirst, call 911 immediately because it may be a sign of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
* If you feel dizzy, light-headed, or weak during activities like walking or running, stop immediately and check your blood sugar level.
Exercise Reduces the Risk for Other Health Problems
In addition to helping people with diabetes better control their blood sugar levels, exercise reduces the risk of developing other health problems associated with diabetes.
People with diabetes are more likely to develop several conditions that can lead to other health problems, including heart disease and kidney failure. Studies have shown that people who exercise can reduce their risk of developing these types of complications.
Further, regular exercise has been found to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels in people who have type 2 diabetes. When you have high blood cholesterol or high blood pressure, you're at a higher risk for heart disease. In fact, one study found that those participants who exercised had an 18 percent decrease in their risk of death from cardiovascular disease over those who didn't.
Regular exercise also helps those living with type 2 diabetes maintain a healthy weight—another factor that helps prevent other health complications associated with the condition. People living with diabetes who participated in a physical activity program lost an average of four pounds over eight weeks.
Conclusion
Diabetes is a serious condition that has the potential to have devastating effects on your health. But there are things you can do to help improve your condition, including exercising regularly. Physical activity helps to reduce the risk for other health problems, helps prepare your body for diabetes, and helps regulate sugar levels and insulin. So if you are looking for a way to improve your diabetes, or are just looking for a way to improve your health in general, be sure to take care of your body—exercise regularly!