Exercise is one of the best things people with diabetes do for themselves. Part 1

Why is exercise so important? Our bodies are made to move and our modern, sedentary life has all but eliminated any need to actually move. We drive cars, have (almost) everything we need and want delivered to our homes, are entertained in every sense via internet, streaming services and more. But the benefits of exercise lead to a healthier, longer and stronger life. When we exercise on a regular basis, we feel good, sleep better, have less stress, can move easier and participate in life more fully.

As we age, we naturally lose muscle mass. It is replaced with fat. This loss of muscle mass decreases our ability to move, walk, sit down and get up, reach for things high up or down low. It’s more difficult to lift children, grandchildren, pets, groceries or heavy pots and pans filled with food. The biggest problem for all of us is that we have less insulin receptors available to our cells and are less able to get glucose into the cells. Remember, our cells use glucose for energy and we need that energy. If we are consuming more carbohydrates than our bodies can handle, we are more likely to develop diabetes later in life, even if we had great blood glucose control in earlier years.

For folks with diabetes, the ability to exercise regularly can help bring down blood glucose levels, allows the body to burn glucose currently available (walking after meals) and helps keep both glucose and insulin levels stable.

We need to maintain our muscle mass. To do that, we need to eat enough protein to make and maintain muscle and we need to participate in aerobic and resistance training to actually build these muscles. Those of you who talked about exercise being the best thing you did for yourselves are on the right track. Walking is great exercise for a lot of reasons. It’s easy to do. You can do it alone or with a pet or with others. You can do it anytime and you need minimal equipment – basically comfortable and supportive walking shoes. Walking for 10 minutes after a meal will bring your blood glucose levels down and reduce possibles spikes in blood glucose from your meal. Next week in part 2, we finish with resistance training.

Dr Elaine

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This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or healthcare provider. Please consult your healthcare provider for advice about a specific medical condition.

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