According to doctors at The Mayo Clinic, exercise reduces the risk of heart disease and nerve damage associated with diabetes. Exercise plays a key role in managing your diabetes. However, it can also be dangerous if you don't first find out how your body responds to exercise and what exercises are the safest for diabetics.
Lace Up Those Shoes
Before starting any exercises, as a diabetic, you should consult with your doctor. Walking is a good place to start. According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetics should try to get 30 minutes of exercise five days each week. Strenuous exercise is not recommended for people with diabetes, and this makes walking perfect. Check online or in the newspaper for local clubs or groups you can join to find walking friends. School tracks are smooth, well-lit areas for walking. However, wherever you like to walk, the key is to get moving.
Splashing Around
Relaxing Exercise
Swimming is another low-impact exercise that is great for diabetics. Swimming helps to relieve pressure in the body and takes your weight off your feet. By moving and kicking in the water, you promote circulation without having to support your body weight. Swimming is the easiest low-impact exercise to do if you are overweight. Swimming is the only low-impact exercise that allows you to raise your legs up level or above your heart, which helps with swelling in the legs and feet. Most cities have public pools, some heated, so you can swim all year. Plus, most public pools offer water-aerobics classes!
Keep Those Wheels Turning
Biking Buddy's
Bicycling is another form of exercise that is safe for diabetics, but there are some restrictions you should consider before starting. Even if you are an avid bicyclist, it's best to stick to easy terrain, avoid uphill or downhill bike routes. Avoid bike routes where the terrain is rough and you could fall. With diabetes, your body takes longer to heal cuts and scrapes, and you have a higher chance of contracting an infection from those cuts. The safest bike riding for diabetics is on a stationary bicycle. If you prefer the great outdoors, make sure you never bike alone; diabetics can experience sudden changes in blood-sugar levels, causing fainting. Always have someone with you or bike in a public area.
Tags: exercise that, low-impact exercise, your body, bike routes, body takes, low-impact exercise that