Exercise is an major part of managing diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association, "When you are active, your cells become more sensitive to insulin so it can work more efficiently. Your cells also remove glucose from the blood using a mechanism totally separate from insulin during exercise." To learn more about exercise and diabetes click here.
Exercise Recommended for Diabetics
The American Diabetes Association recommends two types of exercise for diabetics: aerobic and strength training. Although any exercise is helpful for diabetic, these two are especially important.
AerobicAccording to the American Diabetes Association, "Aerobic exercise helps your body use insulin better. It makes your heart and bones strong, relieves stress, improves blood circulation, and reduces your risk for heart disease by lowering blood glucose and blood pressure and improving cholesterol levels." They recommend 150 minutes of aerobic exercise per week. Aerobic exercises include: brisk walking, bicycling, dancing, swimming, playing tennis, stair climbing, jogging/running, hiking, rowing, ice-skating or roller-skating, cross-country skiing, and moderate-to-heavy gardening.
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Strength TrainingAccording to the American Diabetes Association, "Strength training (also called resistance training) makes your body more sensitive to insulin and can lower blood glucose. It helps to maintain and build strong muscles and bones, reducing your risk for osteoporosis and bone fractures." They recommend doing strength training at least two time weekly. Strength training include: weight lifting, using resistance bands, and calisthenics (exercises that use your own body weight to work your muscles, such as push ups).
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