| You are no doubt aware that exercise can help | | | | Sometimes, it may seem easier to pop a pill or even |
| prevent the serious complications that often come | | | | take a shot than to put on your walking shoes and |
| with diabetes and heart disease. Research has | | | | hit the trail. But the truth is that exercise, in |
| repeatedly shown that regular physical activity helps | | | | combination with a healthy diet, is one of the best |
| reduce the likelihood of having a heart attack or a | | | | things you can do to take care of yourself if you |
| stroke, aids in weight loss, and improves mood. | | | | have diabetes. |
| But do you know that exercise can also help you | | | | Why exercise? |
| reduce your blood glucose levels? | | | | Exercise burns calories, which will help you lose |
| That's right. In people with type II diabetes, exercise | | | | weight or maintain a healthy weight. |
| may improve insulin sensitivity and assist in lowering | | | | Regular exercise can help your body respond to |
| elevated blood glucose levels into the normal range. | | | | insulin and is known to be effective in managing blood |
| Here's how. When you exercise, your body uses | | | | glucose. Exercise can lower blood glucose and |
| more oxygen -- as much as 20 times more -- and | | | | possibly reduce the amount of medication you need |
| even more in the working muscles, than when you | | | | to treat diabetes, or even eliminate the need for |
| are at rest. So the muscles use more glucose to | | | | medication. |
| meet their increased energy needs. | | | | Exercise can improve your circulation, especially in |
| At the same time, exercise improves the action of | | | | your arms and legs, where people with diabetes can |
| insulin in the peripheral muscles, making it more | | | | have problems. |
| efficient, so you get more out of the insulin your | | | | Exercise can help reduce your cholesterol and high |
| body is producing. | | | | blood pressure. High cholesterol and high blood |
| In older people with diabetes, the decrease in insulin | | | | pressure can lead to a heart attack or stroke. |
| sensitivity that comes with aging is also partly due to | | | | Exercise helps reduce stress, which can raise your |
| a lack of physical activity. So regular exercise benefits | | | | glucose level. |
| you now, and for years to come. | | | | |