Exercises for Diabetic Patients – Diabetes Exercises

Physical activities are very essential in keeping a person energetic and healthy. In the case of diabetic, exercise has an important role in regulating blood glucose; avoiding long-term complications of diabetes; maintaining body weight and in minimizing medication.

Exercises like jogging, swimming, fast walking and cycling are good for diabetics. These exercises help to keep cardiovascular system in good condition. These exercises should couple with stretching exercises as warming and cooling down exercises. A typical exercise session should consist of: 10 minutes of warming up exercise of stretching type; about 20-30 minutes of aerobic exercise and finally 5 minutes of cool down and stretching exercise.

Precautions before and during exercise

1. Fix the timing of exercise.
2. Avoid the peak insulin activity period for exercise.
3. Pay special attention to proper foot wear. Never do out door exercise bare feet.
4. Do not forget the warm-up and cool-down exercises.
5. Keep in mind the symptoms of hypoglycemia and how to prevent it.
6. Remember the warning signs of impending cardiac complications, such as discomfort or pain in the chest, abdomen, back, neck or arms. These are the signs of inadequate supply of blood and oxygen.
7. If there are any unusual symptoms during or after the exercise, discuss them with your doctor.
8. Measure, if possible, blood glucose before and immediately after the exercise and again an hour later. The exercise should bring down the blood glucose.

If one follow the above guidelines of exercise, good diet control with medication recommended by doctor, one can achieve a good blood sugar control, cardiovascular conditioning, strengthening the muscles and skeletal system. This also helps in avoiding altogether or minimizing the long-term complications of diabetes.

Consequences of Improper Management of Diabetes

It is possible to manage diabetes but its complete cure is often not since it is a chronic disease. With proper management and a healthy lifestyle, diabetics can avoid the consequences that might erupt if the disease is not treated properly. If the management of diabetes is not proper, the following are the likely effects:

1. Hypoglycemia – Hypoglycemia is the drastic reduction of the glucose levels in the blood due to the action of insulin or prescribed pills. The solution here would be to test the level immediately and also eat sugar or a piece of chocolate to remedy the imbalance.

2. Hyperglycemia – Hyperglycemia is the condition when the glucose levels in the blood alarmingly shoot up. If a person is under severe stress, this is likely to happen. Also, a diabetic may find his levels rising after a particularly rich meal.

3. Possible complications – High glucose levels in the blood if neglected for long can cause complications in the case of diabetic patients. Eye damage (diabetic retinopathy). Kidney and nerve damage are known to occur. Diabetes also increases the chance of the patient experiencing cardiac complications. Hardening of the arteries and strokes are common, if precautions are not taken.

4. Impotency – The percentage of impotent men who have diabetes is very high. In fact, diabetes in men is one of the causes of sterility in couples. So, if diabetes is diagnosed as the reason for impotency, controlling the diabetes the diabetes will make the impotency go away.

5. Susceptibility to infection – Due to high glucose levels, infections set in more easily in the case of a diabetic than a non-diabetic. Also, the infection takes a longer time to be cured than it would otherwise.

6. Amputation – Diabetics are known to suffer from foot ulcers or small areas of gangrene. If not treated in time, the limb may require amputation. Regular monitoring and therapy has shown a reduction in the incidence of amputations in diabetic clinics.

Hope, I have covered some of the major adverse effects if diabetes is not managed properly. So to live healthier and longer you need to control your blood sugar level.

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