The Value of Being Active When You Have DiabetesIncreasing movement by being more active and exercising is one of the best things we can do forourselves. This is especially true for people with diabetes or prediabetes.Along with making healthy food choices, taking medications if necessary, and monitoring your bloodglucose, exercise is an important part of your diabetes management plan.Whether you are newly diagnosed, or have been living with diabetes for years, adding exercise toyour daily routine will help make all your efforts to manage your diabetes more effective.“I get up now in the mornings-- I’m usually up by five thirty, I’m out on the track by six o’clock orsix fifteen, and I do put in maybe two or three miles around the track and I found out thathelped.”Exercise can have a positive impact on your blood glucose levels. In the short-term, you will noticeyour daily blood glucose readings go down, which in turn will lower your A1c level, a long-termindication of your overall blood glucose levels.Not only will exercise help you reach a healthy blood glucose goal, it can help you reduce body fatand increase lean body mass, which are key factors in diabetes management.“I’ve noticed that I feel like a different person and the things that I’m able to do now are justnight-and-day difference compared to when I was 350 pounds.”Exercise and moderate weight loss are also good for your heart. This is especially important becausepeople with diabetes have an increased risk of heart disease.Exercise can reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke by improving your cholesterol and bloodpressure levels, and by improving the health of the blood vessels supplying oxygen to the heart andbrain.And exercise has another benefit – it can reduce stress and improve mood, giving you an increasedsense of well-being and accomplishment.
Keeping Motivated and Rewarding Your Diabetes Self-Care Progress
Find out how getting feedback on your progress and treating yourself to occasional rewards can motivate you to continue working toward your healthy lifestyle goals.
