Activate Your Body Against Diabetes

by Julia Hanf

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 isnt 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.

But before you embark on your fitness program, it is advisable that you consult your physician about the recommended levels of activity and which kinds of exercises are most suited to your condition. Also, it is important that you begin with a less arduous regime and gradually work your way up to more complex exercises or longer durations. Remember to keep your schedule flexible so that theres always some other way you can make for your workout if you happen to miss a session. Make it a point to check your glucose levels both before and after you workout to check your blood glucose response to exercise. If you happen to feel weak, hungry and dizzy while you exercise, it may be that your glucose levels are below the recommended, which leads to a condition called Hypoglycemia. In case of either or all of these symptoms, stop exercising at once and try to elevate your glucose levels with a few glucose pills or half a cup of fruit juice. Check your glucose levels after 15 minutes and if you still find it below 70, repeat the juice or the pills until your glucose levels stabilize at a recommended point.

As a victim of Type One Diabetes, you may also be particularly prone to Ketoacidosis where your body produces toxic substances called ketones which are excreted with your urine. If you do suffer from this condition, then physical activity will only worsen the condition and hence should be avoided. If you find that you tend to get Hypoglycemic when exercising, then it also helps if you schedule a light snack before you begin to work out, which will help stabilize your blood glucose.

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.