subject: How Pilates Can Help Diabetics [print this page] The increasing incidence of diabetes has made many individuals wary of their own personal health. High sugar food, lack of exercise and genetic predisposition has made the current generation much more prone to developing the condition that only makes other illnesses much worse.
Diabetes is the metabolic condition where the individual's body is unable to produce the right levels of the hormone insulin. Insulin is important in processing blood glucose in the body. Blood glucose is used as fuel for cellular processes and with excess blood sugar levels in the body, many complications occur in the body. These complications include cardiovascular issues, neural damage as well as renal complications.
Proper management of this condition is done through medication, proper diet and exercise. Because of the peculiarities of the diabetic condition, exercise is a problem. Exercise has the risk of injury ever present on the individual and diabetics, with their slower healing processes, need an exercise regimen that is low impact so that injury would not occur. When exercising, it is important to check blood sugar levels before and immediately after doing the program to prevent any sudden falls in blood sugar levels.
One low impact but high effect exercise is Pilates. Pilates is an exercise regimen that allows the individual to relax and increase their cardiovascular activity. The exercise emphasizes a mind-body connection that heightens body awareness to relieve stress. Stress is a known cause of exacerbating the complications from diabetes. In doing Pilates, stress levels are controlled to properly manage the complications.
With Pilates, the center of the body is strengthened through postural alignment. Abdominal weakness is one of the conditions that high glucose levels can result in an individual. The realignment of the posture as well as the improved conditioning can help strengthen the organs within the trunk area such as the kidney and liver. The exercise would also improve circulation and glucose metabolism.
Another aspect of Pilates that is often overlooked is the recommendation to eat healthy food together with the exercise. The Pilates program recommends particular foods that be taken to improve core strength through the food eaten. Comparing these food with the diabetes diet plan would surely help in making Pilates as the means to manage excess blood sugar currently in the bloodstream.
In managing diabetes through Pilates, it is a day-to-day struggle. Doing the proper exercise everyday, together with medication as well as the proper diet would make diabetes more manageable. In doing Pilates, stress is managed and overall health and well being can result.
