"The groundwork of all happiness is health." - Leigh Hunt

Exercise safely with diabetes

If you could have diabetes, exercise is probably the greatest things you possibly can do in your health. It can improve your sensitivity to insulin and make it easier to construct muscle and shed excess fat, all of which go a good distance toward keeping your blood sugar levels under control. However, you’ll likely must take a number of more precautions when exercising than someone who doesn’t have diabetes.

First, seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing a fitness routine. This is particularly essential if you happen to are chubby or have a history of heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, or diabetic neuropathy. For people who find themselves 35 years of age or older and have had diabetes for greater than 10 years, current guidelines recommend that you just discuss your plans together with your doctor before starting a brand new exercise program. meet Although not routinely performed, your doctor may order an exercise tolerance test (also called a treadmill test) to observe your heart rate and blood pressure during exercise. The results can make it easier to and your doctor determine the exercise intensity that's best for you.

In general, the most effective time to exercise is one to 3 hours after a meal, when your blood sugar levels are prone to be highest. If you employ insulin, it's essential to ascertain your blood sugar before exercising. If the pre-exercise level is below 100 mg/dL, eating a chunk of fruit or a small snack will increase it and make it easier to avoid hypoglycemia. Retesting after half-hour will tell in case your blood sugar level is stable.

Because of the risks related to diabetes, at all times wear a medical alert bracelet that shows that you could have diabetes and that you just take insulin. Also, keep hard candy or glucose tablets with you during exercise in case your blood sugar drops quickly.


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