subject: Checking Your Health During Exercise [print this page] Exercise is a great way to lose weight and become fit. Regular physical activity can also lower your risk of cardiovascular diseases and it helps lower blood sugar levels.
You should always talk to your doctor before starting any fitness program. If you have any underlying or co-existing medical problems besides diabetes, your doctor might suggest that some forms of physical activity are better for you than others.
If you are a diabetic, always check your blood sugar before, during, and after you engage in physical activity. If your blood sugar is lower than 100 mg/dl, make sure you eat a snack before you start.
Exercise lowers blood sugar so you do not want to start out too low. Hypoglycemia can occur during activity or during the next 12 hours that follow.
If you feel faint or dizzy, weak or confused, stop exercising right away and drink some orange juice or other source of quickly digested sugar. It is probably a good idea to take a snack with you, just in case.
Depending on what type of activity you do, your feet can take a pounding. Always look them over for sores or blisters before and after you exercise.
Make sure that your workout shoes fit well and are comfortable. If your feet are already compromised from poor circulation, choose an activity that does not put undue pressure on them, such as swimming, yoga, or Tai Chi.
If you use insulin, make sure that you inject into your abdomen, not your leg or arm muscles when you work out. If you have diabetes, ask your doctor about exercise and talk to him about any symptoms that you may have that could put you in danger while engaging in physical activity.
Your doctor will advise you whether exercise at this time is appropriate for you. Make sure you drink enough liquid before, during and after your session.
Being dehydrated can raise blood sugar, but drinking water throughout the day keeps cells functioning, even when you are not exercising. Six to eight glasses a day will keep you hydrated and may help your diet as well.
Warm up before you start to work out and also cool down when you are done. This eases your body into the more strenuous portion of your workout and allows your heart rate to return to normal after you're finished.
There is no need to join a gym or have a personal trainer to make fitness a part of your life. You can easily take a walk or a jog around your neighborhood free of charge.
Try to get about 30 minutes of exercise a day, 5 times a week. This is a good amount to shoot for to help you become more fit.
If you are a beginner, it is best to build up gradually. Start by doing 5 to 10 minutes a day and increase by five or ten minutes each week until you build up endurance.
Whichever activity is right for you, make sure it is something you enjoy doing. It is a lot easier to be active every day, if you really enjoy the activity.
You can do activities like dancing, playing team sports, or going on a bike ride with your kids. What you does not matter so much as actually doing something.
Cardiovascular, or cardio training involves activity in which a person's heart rate increases to a higher than normal rate. This type of workout, also called aerobic fitness, can be especially beneficial for people with diabetes because it can help burn extra glucose in the body and also decrease resistance to insulin.
The most important aspect of a cardio routine can also be the most difficult to achieve, that is, regularity. The maximum benefits of cardio training are realized when someone exercises on most days of the week.
This is because the effects of the fitness are not permanent, although they are accumulative. When some form of exercise is done regularly for the long term, then it can significantly help the body process blood sugar levels.
On the other hand, if the exercise is only done once, then the effects only last for that one day. Stay healthy and make fitness a part of your daily routine.
