The use of medication such as insulin as a way to control blood-sugar levels for type 2 diabetes is a poor substitute for a
good diet and exercise.In spite of that, our population seems to be becoming more and more inactive and as a result we are seeing an increase in the
occurrance of this disease. Read on to learn how you can prevent this disease from affecting you.
What is type 2 diabetes?
The Diabetes Association of Canada explains that your body gets energy by making glucose from foods like bread, potatoes,
rice, pasta, milk and fruit. To use this glucose, your body needs insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps your body control
the level of glucose (sugar) in your blood. This 'adult onset diabetes' is a disease in which your pancreas stops
producing enough insulin, or your body does not properly use the insulin it makes.
If you have type 2 diabetes, glucose builds up in your blood instead of being used for energy.
Over time, high blood glucose levels can cause complications such as blindness, heart disease, kidney problems, nerve damage
and erectile dysfunction. Fortunately, good diabetes care and management can prevent or delay the onset of these
complications.
The Diabetes Association of Canada also explains that diet and exercise are important in controlling type 2 diabetes. You can read more of what the Canadian Diabetes Association says about type 2 diabetes here...
The Weight of Exercise
Everyone should exercise, yet the health experts tells us that only 30% of the United States population gets the recommended
thirty minutes of daily physical activity, and 25% are not active at all. In fact, inactivity is thought to be one of the key
reasons for the surge of type 2 diabetes in the U.S., because inactivity and obesity promote insulin resistance.
The good news is that it is never too late to get moving, and exercise is one of the easiest ways to start controlling your
diabetes. For people with type 2 diabetes in particular, exercise can improve insulin sensitivity, lower the risk of heart
disease, and promote weight loss.
Diabetes is on the rise. The number of people diagnosed with diabetes every year increased by 48% between 1980 and 1994.
Nearly all the new cases are Type 2 Diabetes, or adult-onset, the kind that moves in around middle age. Symptoms of Type 2
Diabetes include increased thirst, appetite, and need to urinate; feeling tired, edgy, or sick to the stomach; blurred
vision; tingling or loss of feeling in the hands.
The causes of type 2 diabetes are complex and not completely understood, although research is uncovering new clues at a rapid
pace.
However, it has already been proven that one of the reasons for the boom in type 2 diabetes is the widening of waistbands and
the trend toward a more deskbound and inactive lifestyle in the United States and other developed countries. In America, the
shift has been striking; in the 1990s alone, obesity increased by 61% and diagnosed diabetes by 49%.
For this reason, health experts encourage those who already have type 2 diabetes to start employing the wonders that exercise
can do for them. Without exercise, people have the tendency to become obese. Once they are obese, you have a much greater
chance of developing type 2 diabetes.
Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that over 80% of people with type 2 diabetes are clinically
overweight. Therefore, it is high time that people, whether inflicted with type 2 diabetes or not, should start exercising.
Getting Started
The first order of business with any exercise plan, especially if you are a long-time couch-potato, is to consult with your
doctor. If you have cardiac risk factors, the health care provider may want to perform a stress test to establish a safe
level of exercise for you. Take your doctors advice to a personal trainer to get you started on a safe and effective exercise
program.
Certain diabetic complications will also dictate what type of exercise program you can take on. Activities like
weightlifting, jogging, or high-impact aerobics can possibly pose a risk for people with diabetic retinopathy due to the risk
for further blood vessel damage and possible retinal detachment.
If you are already active in sports or work out regularly, it will still benefit you to discuss your regular routine with
your doctor. If you are taking insulin, you may need to take special precautions to prevent hypoglycemia during your workout.
Start Slow
For those who have this disease, your exercise routine can be as simple as a brisk nightly neighborhood walk. If you have
not been very active before now, start slowly and work your way up. Walk the dog or get out in the yard and rake. Take the
stairs instead of the elevator. Park in the back of the lot and walk. Every little bit does work, in fact, it really helps a
lot.
As little as 15 to 30 minutes of daily, heart-pumping exercise can make a big difference in your blood glucose control and
your risk of developing diabetic complications. One of the easiest and least expensive ways of getting moving is to start a
walking program. All you need is a good pair of well-fitting, supportive shoes and a direction to head in.
Indeed, you do not have to waste expenses on costly health club memberships, or the most up-to-date health device to start
burning the fat. What you need is the willingness and the determination to start exercising to a healthier, type 2
diabetes-free life.
The great result is a longer and healthier life.
Hiring a Personal trainer for type 2 diabetes control can be cheaper than you might think. Send an email to Chad Tackett and he will respond personally.
Or choose another top exercise and weight loss program.
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