Is exercise good for Diabetes ?
Regular exercise is good for your general health as well as for your diabetes. Exercise makes your heart stronger and improves your circulation. Exercise improves your muscle tone and strength. Exercise helps you manage stress and helps you feel better about yourself. All of these help to make you more fit.
Exercise helps to reduce your risk of developing heart disease. Exercise helps lower the level of triglycerides and raise the level of HDL or “good cholesterol” in your blood. Exercise also helps lower your blood pressure. High blood pressure contributes to many of the chronic complications that can occur with diabetes.
Exercise helps you lose weight or maintain your weight by burning calories. By following a meal plan and exercising regularly, you can lose weight and maintain it at a desirable level. Exercise over time will increase the amount of muscle and decrease the amount of fat stored in your body. Muscle cells use more sugar and improve your blood sugar levels.
During exercise your body uses more sugar for energy than when your body is at rest. This can result in a rapid lowering of your blood sugar if you are taking insulin or an oral sulfonylurea (such as glipizide, glyburide, or glimepiride). You may have hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) during or after exercise. It is important that you keep your blood sugar in a safe range while you exercise. In order to do this, there must be a balance between the sugar used for energy while you exercise, the sugar available from food, and the medication you are on to lower your blood sugar. Testing your blood sugar is the best way to check this balance.
If you are at risk for hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) when you exercise, always be prepared. Sometimes hypoglycemia is harder to recognize when you are exercising because the exercise may make you sweaty or light-headed. Testing your blood sugar if you suspect an hypoglycemia is very important. If possible, exercise with a family member or friend who could help you if needed. Always carry some form of identification that says you have diabetes. Be sure to take some quick-acting form of sugar with you when you exercise such as glucose tablets or gel, Life Savers® or fruit juice.
If you have Type 1 diabetes, exercise is always balanced with your meal plan and insulin to control your diabetes. Changes may have to made in your insulin or food intake or both before and after exercise to prevent you from having hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
If you have Type 2 diabetes, exercise helps to increase the sensitivity of your body cells to insulin. With this increased sensitivity, your own insulin works better and your blood sugar levels get better. When exercise is done at least every other day it is more likely to have this effect. Exercising regularly and following a meal plan may get your blood sugars in the target range without medication. In many people with Type 2 diabetes, medication is needed. Exercise is then used with a meal plan and the medication to control your diabetes.
