Diabetes and Exercise: One Can Improve the Other

Even if it’s just 10 minutes a day, exercise can help you with diabetes. Not only does exercise burn blood sugar and therefore lower your blood sugar level, but exercise also improves your body’s ability to use insulin and encourages beneficial diabetes weight loss. The favorable link between diabetes and exercise is undeniable. Knowing this fact, you may wonder, “How can I get moving in the right direction?”

Diabetic or not, everyone should consult with a health care provider before starting an exercise program. Diabetes and exercise can be especially challenging because diabetes can cause heart damage, so you’ll want to make sure your heart is healthy enough to begin a new exercise program. Diabetics also tend to have nerve and infection problems with their feet, meaning you will need to wear comfortable shoes and check your feet often to ensure you don’t have blisters or sores from exercise.

Once you receive a green light for the diabetes and exercise challenge, you can decide what type of exercise you’re able to participate in. Aerobic exercise is a good choice for diabetes because there are many activates to choose from, such as walking, swimming, dancing, and bicycling. In addition to burning calories and improving your diabetes, aerobic exercise also strengthens your lungs, heart, and overall health.

Since exercise changes the way your body uses insulin, you may find that your blood sugar may become too low with diabetes and exercise. Check your blood sugar before and after you exercise, and make sure to have a snack or juice handy just in case you become hypoglycemic. You also should wear a medical ID bracelet.

You can feel the benefits of diabetes and exercise without joining a gym, wearing special clothes, or playing on a sports team. Anything that gets you moving every day is worth it because it will make your insulin work better, improve your blood circulation, and keep your weight in check.