All hope of productive exercising is not lost just because you are diabetic. Exercise can help you control or begin to reverse your diabetic condition.
When I perform a fitness assessment on clients, medical conditions often become a consideration as I design that client’s exercise program. Sometimes, the client will need to get medical clearance before we can begin the exercise program.
Diabetes is a growing problem in America and around the globe. About 6-10 percent of the American population has diabetes with millions of new cases every year. This number is expected to double in the next 20 years!
Diabetes is also the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. Research has also shown that people who develop diabetes before age 30 are twenty times more likely to die by age 40. Whew! And, America’s sedentary lifestyle isn’t helping the problem.
Diabetes is a metabolic disorder caused by insulin deficiency which impairs glucose usage. There are two forms of diabetes:
Type 1 – It is usually found in normal or underweight younger people. Type 1 diabetics usually inject insulin so that blood sugar can be delivered to the body’s cells. Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) levels can lead to dizziness, weakness and fainting. It is disturbing that more cases are happening where young people are beginning to have Type 2 diabetes also (due to obesity and lack of exercise)!
Type 2 – This type of diabetes is associated with obesity, especially abdominal obesity. Type 2 diabetics usually produce enough insulin but their cells are insulin resistant. This can result in hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). If left uncorrected, it leads to kidney, heart, eye and nerve damage.
Here are 7 exercise considerations for diabetics:
Note: This article assumes you are following a meal plan designed by your dietician.
1. As a personal trainer, I’m trying to help the client avoid hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia during and after exercise. As a diabetic, you should keep a snack on hand for a quick source of carbohydrates to avoid hypoglycemia.
Doing short workouts, such as a 10-minute workout works well.
2. Glucose levels should be measured before, during and after exercise (especially for those newly diagnosed).
3. Quality footwear is important and the feet should be checked often for blisters.
4. Post-exercise carbohydrate consumption is advisable.
5. The diabetic can do resistance training (bodyweight exercises are great). The workload should be monitored carefully.
6. Low impact aerobics work well for diabetics.
7. Exercise can have an insulin-like affect on the body (i.e., exercise-induced hypoglycemia).
If you have diabetes, the key is to keep it under control. Doing so will allow you to lead a normal life.
-Catherine Ebeling and Mike Geary are co-authors of the popular ebook, Fat-Burning Kitchen, which shows you how to totally revamp your kitchen to make your body a fat-burning machine!
Mark Dilworth, BA, PES
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