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