Diabetes Exercise Programs – Fun And Healthy!
If you have diabetes, you probably know that it’s especially important to keep your weight under control and stay in good shape. Diabetes exercise programs should be monitored by a physician, but it’s a good idea to incorporate daily exercise into your lifestyle.
In a nutshell, diabetes is a condition in which your body loses the ability to regulate blood glucose levels. However, diabetes is more complex, with a variety of effects and complications that result from the primary condition. Your kidneys, heart and eyes may suffer damage, which can worsen, over time, if your blood sugar levels are not monitored and regulated through diet, medications and exercise. All of these treatments are important in the control of diabetes. Here, we discuss one aspect of diabetic care – the importance of a daily diabetes exercise program and how you can make this work for you.
Challenges Of Diabetes Exercise
Problem number one is that the pain of diabetes disinclines the patient to stick with a daily diabetes exercise program. This problem becomes a vicious circle. The less exercise you get, the more troublesome the muscle aches and pains associated with diabetes become. Poor circulation also contributes to nerve pain. This constant and increasing pain are certainly enough to depress you. Yet, even if you’ve already reached a point where you get little or virtually no exercise, there’s no time like the present to implement a daily diabetes exercise regimen, so that you can start feeling better.
It’s no wonder that getting started with and, sticking to a daily exercise program is a challenge. Some people with diabetes believe that exercise means doing strenuous workouts that will only increase the pain. The key to your success lies in taking small, but consistent steps. You can begin with a couple of short, 15-minute walks, morning and evening, at a leisurely pace. You’ll find that your energy will increase and muscle and nerve pain will lessen, purely as a result of improving your circulation and toning your muscles. Let’s see what you might do next, to build up your diabetes exercise program.
Diabetes Exercise Ideas
If you have access to a pool, or can join a community swimming program, this is an excellent way to tone your muscles, further improve your circulation and lose some weight, as necessary. Try swimming for a half hour, three times a week, as time and scheduling permit. If you can swim daily, by all means, do so.
Weight lifting? A fantastic inclusion in your diabetes exercise regimen. We’re not talking 50-pound weights. A set of 2-5 pound hand sets are all you need to strengthen and tone muscles. When your muscles lack tone, it’s far easier to get nerves ‘trapped’, a pain you can do without! Start with just 15 minutes each day and work up from there.
Sign up for an aerobics class. This form of exercise doesn’t put stress on joints, but is excellent for building strength and toning muscles. If you’re interested in martial arts, Tai-Chi may be a perfect choice for your customized diabetes exercise program. Tai-Chi is an interesting mix of mental focus and physical agility which does not overtax your body.
Adding Variety To Your Workout Program
Now that you’ve become engaged in several forms of exercise, try alternating days and exercise activities. At the end of the day, the value of deep muscle massage cannot be overstated. If you’ve got a spouse or partner to help, great. If not, you can do this to a good degree all on your own. Use baby oil, rubbing arms, legs and chest with a firm, smooth motion. Foot massage is also helpful for your circulation. This is also a good time to do your daily inspection of your feet, checking for cuts or cracks in the skin.
If some of these routines aren’t appealing to you, talk to your doctor to see what other possibilities are recommended for a good daily diabetes exercise program. You’ll be truly amazed at the results. To your better health!
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