Diabetes: ‘activate’ Your Body Against This Devastating Disease

By Julia Hanf in Diabetes on January 30th, 2008

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by Julia Hanf

The process which converts the food you eat into the energy your body uses is far from simple. After every meal, the carbohydrate content of the food is broken down into a simpler form of sugar, which is also known as glucose, which is then carried to the different parts of your body via the bloodstream. Your cells then get to work, transforming this glucose into energy which they use to function. However, if your body is bereft of the insulin it requires in metabolizing this glucose, or if your cells do not respond to the insulin which the pancreas secretes, a disease known as Diabetes sets in which is one of the most widespread of its kind in today’s world.

Diabetes is one of the most devastating diseases of the modern world, as many of the complications it leads to are far reaching and can even result in death. However, there is a brighter side to the story. This disease can be easily keep under control by simply adhering to a few basic precautions which include limiting your meals and keeping your meal times regular, being meticulous about your medication and keeping a stringent check over your blood glucose levels. Apart from these remedial measures, there is also the element of exercise, which plays a significant role in thwarting the more distressing symptoms of Diabetes.

The most widespread cause, and also one of the major factors which complicate Diabetes, is obesity. With regular and moderate exercise, helps you deal with this demon, by making sure your weight never goes out of hand. Your exercise routine should incorporate at least 30 minutes of aerobic activity, five times a week. There are numerous ways in which you can achieve this goal. Aerobic exercise allows for plenty of variation and can be as simple as a brisk walk or a sport or even a low-impact aerobic class which you can sign up for. And if you don’t have the time to devote 30 minutes at a go, you can even portion it into 3, 10 minute sessions during the course of the day and still avail of all its benefits.

Diabetes also affects the nerves of your feet, which may make it painful for you to indulge in activities which are hard on your feet. If your doctor advises you to keep away from these forms of exercise, then you can try bicycling, either outdoors or indoors, swimming, water aerobics and even rowing which are all great calorie-burners, but go easy on your feet. You can dabble in as varied an exercise regime as you want to, which will also keep you more motivated towards maintaining your fitness program. Strength training is another important aspect of exercise as it helps you build bone and muscle mass, allowing you to burn those calories away, even when your body’s at rest. You can either register for a strength training class to get started or invest in your own set of weights, elastic bands or plastic tubes and set up a workout regime of your own.

Before you work out a fitness regime for yourself, make sure to speak to your physician about your recommended levels of activity as well as the kind of exercise which will benefit your condition. Also, don’t plunge headlong into your regime, which will be more detrimental than advantageous, but work your way up as your body adjusts itself to your workouts. Try to keep your schedule as flexible as you can, so that even if you miss a session, you can compensate for it during the course of the day. Keep a close watch over your blood glucose levels, both before and after you exercise, to see how your blood sugar is responding to your workouts. In case of any uneasiness like hunger, dizziness and weakness during your workout session, stop at once. These are the initial symptoms of low blood sugar of Hypoglycemia which you need to treat with glucose pills, or half a cup of fruit juice until your blood sugar is above the minimum 70.

As a victim of Type One Diabetes, you may also be particularly prone to Ketoacidosis where your body produces toxic substances called ketones which are excreted with your urine. If you do suffer from this condition, then physical activity will only worsen the condition and hence should be avoided. If you find that you tend to get Hypoglycemic when exercising, then it also helps if you schedule a light snack before you begin to work out, which will help stabilize your blood glucose.

With the host of benefits it offers, regular exercise can not only help you work your way through your diabetes, but is also a very effective stress-buster, helping you avert several of the aliments that may afflict you as you grow older. And the best way to set forth with your fitness program is to make that call to your physician right now with just a little bit of determination and reasonable milestones which you lay out for yourself, your Diabetes maladies will soon be a thing of the past!

About the Author:

Julia Hanf author of the book How To Play the Diabetes Diet Game and Win Through a real life crisis Julia figured out how to live diabetes free. Visit www.yourdiabetescure.com and learn more about your solution for diabetes.