You might have heard several times that exercise is one of the significant parts of a healthy lifestyle. And when you have Type 2 diabetes, physical activity is even more. Treatment for diabetes includes regular exercising regimen along with a healthy diet and medications. Read on to discover some more tips to cure diabetes.
Benefits of Exercise
If you stay fit and active throughout your life, you will be able to gain control over your blood sugar levels and keep diabetes associated complication at bay. Maintaining blood sugar levels in the correct range is essential for preventing long term complications such as kidney disease and nerve pain.
Exercise has numerous benefits, but the biggest one is that it makes it easier to manage blood glucose levels. It is the best natural treatment for diabetes. Those who are suffering Type 2 diabetes tend to have too much glucose in their bloodstream, either because their body doesn’t produce enough insulin or because their body doesn’t use insulin properly or become insulin resistant. Regular exercise is beneficial in both the cases and reduces the glucose levels in your bloodstream. It doesn’t matter whether your body is using insulin properly or not, or if you have enough insulin, when you work out, your muscles get the glucose they required, and ultimately your blood glucose levels go down.
In the case of insulin resistance, physical activity makes your body to use insulin properly, and your body cells can use glucose more effectively. Regular workout helps avoid Type 2 diabetes complications, especially cardiovascular problems. People with diabetes are more likely to develop blocked arteries which can contribute to a heart attack. Exercise helps avoid hardening of arteries and keep your heart healthy. See the suggestions below for what type of exercise you need to do to keep yourself free from diabetes complications.
Best Exercise Tips for Type 2 Diabetes
Exercising is a natural way to reduce your blood sugar. Fortunately, you don’t need to run a marathon or swim a mile to reap the benefits of physical activity. A few minutes of work out can help prevent long term complications associated with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Get started with these tips to cure diabetes:
- Monitor your blood sugar levels– It is essential to check your blood sugar levels both before and after working out. In case your blood sugar is low, then snack on to fast-acting carbohydrates such as an apple, orange, granola bar, or a slice of bread. Wait for fifteen minutes before rechecking. If you have achieved the appropriate range with food additives, you are ready to hit the gym and if still not continue to follow the same eating schedule and wait for 15 minutes until you reach the normal range. If you have high sugar levels before a workout, consider having a protein-rich snack an hour before you begin your workout.
- Listen to your body- If you are using medication to get the appropriate sugar levels, and you end up feeling tired, fatigued and want to skip a workout, it could be because of a significant drop in your blood sugar. Checking your sugar levels is wise. And sip on fast-acting carbohydrate sources such as sports drinks or natural fruit juices to bring back to normal range.
- Hydration is necessary– People with diabetes must add extra fluids to the minimum recommendations. Never begin a workout if you feel thirsty. Make sure you drink enough water before exercise. Water helps to dilute the blood and moves fast throughout your body.
Also Read: 5 Worst Foods for Type 2 Diabetes
- Move more– decreasing sitting time each day may result in critical health benefits for those with Type 2 diabetes. If you work in an office where your duties begin at 9 and ends by 5, try to get up and mover every hour for at least ten minutes.
- Walk after meals- Researchers suggest waiting for about 30 minutes and then take a walk of around 15 minutes. This can be done after a lunch or a dinner, and you can involve your family, friends and loved ones, so it doesn’t feel like a part of a work out regime.
- Lift weights-Weight training can enhance your metabolic rate and cause you to burn calories at a fast pace and to burn extra calories keeps your blood glucose levels in check.
- Do Exercise for fun- For every individual, including people with diabetes, working out should not feel like a punishment. When you finish your exercise, you should feel like doing it again. If you have diabetes, then remember that you are training for life. So, choose a work out you like doing the most such as tennis, biking, cycling, swimming, etc. and do it for fun.
