Diabetes: Exercise Your Illness Away!
The human body derives its nutrition and energy from the food we eat. This it does by breaking down the carbohydrate content of the food into more simple sugars, or glucose, which then travels through the blood stream to different parts of the body to use. However, sometimes cells of the body are unable to convert the glucose to energy, either because the pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin, or because the cells themselves fail to recognize this production and thus cannot metabolize the glucose. And this ailment, which is growing increasingly common with every passing day, is referred to as Diabetes.
If allowed to develop unchecked, Diabetes can lead to several severe complications, many of which are permanent and others even fatal. However, take care to ensure that your disease does not go out of hand is not as daunting as it may seem. With regular and timely meals, medication which your doctor prescribes, and constant monitoring of your blood glucose levels, you could be well on your way to leading a long, active and satisfying life. And in addition to these precautions, exercise is a vital part of keeping your blood sugar levels moderated.
Obesity is one of the most prominent causes of Diabetes and can aggravate it if not corrected in time. And regular exercise in moderate doses allows you to do just that. Your exercise routine should include some amount of aerobic activity. Now this can be as interesting as you want it to be. From signing up for a low-impact aerobics class, to even a whole-hearted game of tennis, the options are numerous, and very exciting. It is recommended that you indulge in some form of aerobic exercise for about 30 minutes a session and weave in 5 such sessions during the week. And if you are pressed for time, you could even break down these 30 minutes into 10 minute sessions through the day.
Diabetes causes a lot of damage to the nerves of your feet and should you be afflicted by this condition, try some form of activity which isn’t quite as taxing on your feet. For instance, you can go swimming or bicycling and even join a water aerobics session, which makes sure your activity levels are met, while taking the load off your feet. You can be as experimental with your exercise regime as you like, with your physician’s approval. This will encourage you to stick to your fitness plan, while also making it an interesting activity to indulge in. Strength Training is another integral part of your weight-control program, as it helps you develop your bone and muscle mass, and thus lets you burn away those unwanted calories for hours after you work out. If you aren’t very cognizant with strength training techniques, you can sign up for a class, or even make your own kit of weights, elastic bands or plastic tubes to strength train at home.
Before you work out a fitness regime for yourself, make sure to speak to your physician about your recommended levels of activity as well as the kind of exercise which will benefit your condition. Also, don’t plunge headlong into your regime, which will be more detrimental than advantageous, but work your way up as your body adjusts itself to your workouts. Try to keep your schedule as flexible as you can, so that even if you miss a session, you can compensate for it during the course of the day. Keep a close watch over your blood glucose levels, both before and after you exercise, to see how your blood sugar is responding to your workouts. In case of any uneasiness like hunger, dizziness and weakness during your workout session, stop at once. These are the initial symptoms of low blood sugar of Hypoglycemia which you need to treat with glucose pills, or half a cup of fruit juice until your blood sugar is above the minimum 70.
Many victims of Type One Diabetes are also particularly susceptible to Ketoacidosis, where toxic substances called ketones build up in your blood stream. If you happen to be diagnosed with this condition, then it is advisable to refrain from any kind of physical activity, as doing so will only exacerbate this condition. Munching on a light snack before you begin to exercise also helps you keep Hypoglycemia at bay.
With the host of benefits it offers, regular exercise can not only help you work your way through your diabetes, but is also a very effective stress-buster, helping you avert several of the aliments that may afflict you as you grow older. And the best way to set forth with your fitness program is to make that call to your physician right now with just a little bit of determination and reasonable milestones which you lay out for yourself, your Diabetes maladies will soon be a thing of the past!