Diabetes and Exercise |

Diabetes and Exercise

Common questions asked by sufferers of the chronic disease relate to what types of exercise are recommended and how to address safety concerns. The common belief about exercise and diabetes is that monitoring glucose levels before, during and after exercise is of paramount importance. Most doctors and researchers agree that exercise should be included as a healthy approach to treating the condition.

Obtaining a doctor’s blessings before beginning an exercise regiment is always a good idea. Factors like age, weight and overall health always play a role in the type of exercise recommended for any patient. Partnering with a doctor who is familiar with a patient’s medical history is a smart first step to take before embarking on a new physical fitness program. Embracing exercise as a way to improve the health of a diabetes patient makes sense, but it is equally important to be careful and smart about what types of exercise work best to improve the damage and symptoms of this disease.

Exercise Goals

Research suggests that not all exercise programs afford the same amount of benefit for diabetes sufferers. According to an article published on the Mayo Clinic website, experts recommend a minimum of 150 minutes of physical activity for best results. Findings published in the Annals of Internal Medicine indicate that a combination of both aerobic exercise and weight training is a better option than working out exclusively in either aerobics or resistance training.

Contrary to what many may believe, diabetes and running are a popular exercise choice. Some people train and run marathons in spite of the disease. Many runners claim that they are able to do anything they want as long as they are careful and check their sugar levels often.

Exercise Safety and Blood Sugar Levels

While exercise is highly recommended as a way to improve disease symptoms and blood sugar levels, it is critical to stay on top of glucose readings. Before beginning to exercise, a patient should check to be sure the blood sugar level is between 100 and 250 mg/dL. If your blood sugar level is below 100, then a snack is recommended to bring the level up to at least 100. Crackers or a piece of fruit will usually bring blood sugar levels up to the acceptable range mentioned above.

On the high side, a blood sugar level reading of 250mg/dL or higher means the urine should be checked for ketones. Extra ketones are an indicator that your body is low on insulin. Exercising when ketones are high puts a person at risk for developing ketoacidosis, which is a serious health problem warranting immediate medical attention.

A blood sugar level of 300mg/dL or higher definitely puts a person at risk or ketoacidosis. With this high rating it is important to postpone exercise until blood sugar ratings fall into the safe range mentioned above. Checking blood sugar rates periodically is of paramount importance.

Warning Symptoms

During exercise a careful person must be alert to warning signs that they should stop. Any time a person feels nervous, confused or shaky,they should stop exercising immediately. A good guideline to follow is to check blood sugar ratings every thirty minutes while exercising.

Even after an exercise session, it is important to check glucose levels. It is not unusual to experience low blood pressure hours after exercise is over. Since exercise depletes sugar stored in the liver and muscles it takes awhile to recover once levels get low. It is always important to monitor blood sugar levels for safety purposes.

Sources:

http://diabetes.webmd.com/peripheral-neuropathy-8/slideshow-managing-diabetes-with-exercise
http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/Your-stories/Diabetes-stories/The-benefits-of-running-with-diabetes-are-so-significant/
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/diabetes-and-exercise/DA00105
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1662683,00.html