Diabetes: Exercise Your Illness Away!
Julia Hanf
The food you eat travels a long way before it is transformed into the energy your body thrives on. The carbohydrates in the food are first broken down into more simple form of sugar or glucose by the digestive system, which is then transported to the various parts of your body to recharge them. To metabolize the glucose, the cells of your body make use of an enzyme called insulin, which is secreted by the pancreas. However, if your pancreas does not produce enough insulin for your cells to use, or if your body does not make use of the insulin to convert the glucose to energy, it leads to a condition known as Diabetes.
Diabetes is renowned for the severe and often debilitating conditions that spring from it, many of which are permanent and some, life-threatening. However, the good news is that a majority of these conditions can be reversed, if not completely averted, with a few basic precautionary measures. These include regular and moderated meal times, timely intake of prescribed medication and most importantly, a constant check on your blood glucose levels. There is also a fourth element, namely exercise, which has a very important role to play in keeping your Diabetes under control.
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.
If the nerves of your feet have suffered on account of your diabetic condition, then you can opt for a form of aerobic exercise which isn't quite as strenuous for your feet, but still burns a reasonable amount of calories. This can include bicycling, swimming or water aerobics and rowing. You can opt for either of these activities or work in a combination of all of them into your workout schedule to introduce an element of diversity. You can also incorporate strength training sessions into your fitness regime. Strength training exercises help your bones grow stronger while also developing your muscle tissue. An added advantage that strength training offers is being able to burn calories, even while your body is at rest. You can either join a class for a supervised workout, or buy a kit comprising of weights, elastic bands or plastic tubes and devise your own strength training schedule.
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.
Type One Diabetes also leads to a complication known as Ketoacidosis, where your body produces toxins called Ketones which it expels with your urine. If you suffer from this condition, your physician may recommend that you refrain from any kind of physical activity to avoid the complications which may follow. You can also schedule your meal plan to allow a light snack before your exercise session, which will regularize your blood sugar levels and keep you from getting Hypoglycemic.
The benefits of regular exercise are not just limited to watching over your blood sugar levels in fact, exercise is also the most recommended stress-handling therapy. Making your day-to-day life as active as you can also helps you avert the more severe ailments which afflict you as your body ages. The first step to a healthier and more fulfilling life begins with that all-important call to your physician. Start today and watch your life transform before your very eyes!
Julia Hanf author of the book How To Play the Diabetes Diet Game and Win Through a real life crisis Julia figured out how to live diabetes free. Visit http://www.yourdiabetescure.com and learn more about your solution for diabetes.
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