The Importance of Exercise for People with Diabetes

Exercise is an essential part of diabetes management. It can help to lower blood sugar levels, improve insulin sensitivity, and reduce the risk of complications.

How does exercise help people with diabetes?

Exercise helps people with diabetes in a number of ways:

• It helps to lower blood sugar levels. When you exercise, your muscles use glucose for energy. This can help to lower blood sugar levels in the short-term. Exercise can also help to improve insulin sensitivity, which can help to lower blood sugar levels over the long-term.
  
• It improves insulin sensitivity. Insulin is a hormone that helps the body use glucose for energy. People with diabetes often have insulin resistance, which means that their cells don’t respond to insulin as well as they should. Exercise can help to improve insulin sensitivity, which can help to lower blood sugar levels.
  
• Reduces the risk of complications. Exercise can help to reduce the risk of a number of diabetes complications, including heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney disease, and nerve damage.
  

What type of exercise is best for people with diabetes?

Any type of exercise is good for people with diabetes, but some types of exercise are better than others. Aerobic exercise, such as walking, running, swimming, and biking, is especially beneficial for people with diabetes. Aerobic exercise helps to lower blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity.

Strength training exercise is also beneficial for people with diabetes. Strength training helps to build muscle mass, which can help to improve blood sugar control. Strength training can also help to reduce the risk of falls and fractures.

How much exercise do people with diabetes need?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adults with diabetes get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity each week. In addition, adults with diabetes should do muscle-strengthening activities that work all major muscle groups on two or more days a week.

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How can people with diabetes get started with exercise?

If you are new to exercise, it is important to start slowly and gradually increase the amount of time you exercise each week. It is also important to talk to your doctor before starting any new exercise program. Your doctor can help you create an exercise plan that is safe and effective for you.

Here are some tips for people with diabetes who are starting an exercise program:

• Start slowly and gradually increase the amount of time you exercise each week.
• Talk to your doctor before starting any new exercise program.
• Choose activities that you enjoy and that are safe for you.
• Warm up before you start exercising and cool down afterwards.
• Drink plenty of fluids before, during, and after you exercise.
• Listen to your body and take breaks if you need them.
• Wear comfortable clothing and shoes.
• Be aware of the weather conditions and dress appropriately.
• If you have any concerns, stop exercising and talk to your doctor.

Exercise is an important part of diabetes management. It can help to lower blood sugar levels, improve insulin sensitivity, and reduce the risk of complications. If you have diabetes, talk to your doctor about starting an exercise program.