Everybody benefits from exercise. If you have diabetes, or at risk of diabetes, exercise along with controlled diet plays an important role in keeping you healthy.
Benefits of exercises:
- Exercises help Insulin to work better, which will improve your diabetes management by lowering blood glucose levels
- Improve mood and sleep
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Lower your blood pressure and cholesterol levels
- Reduces your risk of heart and blood vessel diseases
- Reduces stress and tension
- Improve mental health
- Improve muscle mass and bone density
Exercise programs: Basically anything that gets you moving.
What’s available at Ellenbrook Physiotherapy?
- Range of Pilates classes
- 1:1 Pilates/Gym sessions
- Individualized exercise programs
- Weight/Resistance training
- Hydrotherapy – water based exercises
Some other suggestions of physical activities that you can participate in:
- Walking
- Swimming
- Water aerobics
- Cycling/exercise bike
- Dancing
- Gardening
Some exercise tips for people with diabetes:
- You can get the most benefit from exercises when combined with healthy eating
- Before you start exercising, make sure you have a health check with your GP
- Check your blood glucose levels before and after exercise to see how the exercise you are doing affects you
- If your blood glucose levels are above the normal range, increase your fluid intake to stay hydrated when doing exercise
- If you are unwell and your blood glucose levels are high, avoid exercising until your blood glucose levels have returned to the normal range
- Always take hypoglycaemia treatment with you if you take insulin
Raj Kaur
