The truth about Diabetes and exercise

Exercising and keeping fit is rewarding. Apart from burning calories and releasing feel-good hormones, exercising can save you from falling prone to chronic illnesses such as Diabetes. Type 2 Diabetes has been proven to commonly affect people with low activity levels; some cases have even been brought upon by obesity. Join a Virgin Active Health Club now to change your lifestyle and take control of your health and fitness.

Diabetes and exercise: the benefits of being active
Type 1 Diabetes is more known to be in children and occurs when your pancreas does not produce any or sufficient insulin. Without insulin, your body’s cells will be unable to break down the sugar that enters your body when you eat and will therefore not have any energy for activity, cell growth and repair and all other vital actions. Almost 90% of people who are diagnosed with Diabetes have Type 2 Diabetes. And exercising will help you manage your Diabetes efficiently. Type 2 Diabetes is when your pancreas produces insulin but doesn’t produce enough insulin or the body can not use the insulin sufficiently to process sugar. Type 2 Diabetes also occurs when your body is insulin resistant; it doesn’t use the insulin it produces.

When it comes to Diabetes and exercise, keeping your body’s fat percentage at a minimum should be your goal. Obesity and lack of exercise is the biggest risk to getting Type 2 Diabetes because being overweight forces your pancreas to work overtime.

If you are already diagnosed with Diabetes, speak to a fitness instructor or Biokineticist at a Virgin Active Health Club about Diabetes and exercise so that a suitable fitness routine can be designed specifically for you. Exercising will help you manage your Diabetes effectively and will even improve your insulin levels so you won’t need to take your medication as often as you would have before. However, always consult with your doctor before deciding to cut back on your medication.

Exercising can enrich the quality of life for a diabetic in the following ways: 

• It can enable your body to be more sensitive to insulin and process sugar as your body needs it.
• It can improve your body’s ability to utilise blood glucose, thereby lowering sugar levels and reducing the need to take insulin medication.
• It significantly reduces cholesterol levels and high blood pressure thus reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes that are common with many Diabetes patients.It has the potential to reduce your body fat in the abdomen (when combined with a balanced diet) which is significant since abdomen fat is common in overweight diabetics. Exercise may enhance blood flow and circulation, which in turn promotes the body’s use of blood glucose.
• It reduces stress levels which cause peaks in glucose levels that can be dangerous for diabetics.

While many cases of Type 2 Diabetes are hereditary, a vast number of cases have been listed as a result of overeating, indulging in junk food too often and an lack of exercise or be active. About nine out of ten people in the country with Type 2 Diabetes are overweight. People who have Diabetes and exercise regularly show controlled blood glucose levels with very few peaks and drops. When your heart rate increases during exercise, your body works up a sweat and boosts your circulatory system. This is advantageous to diabetics as most suffer from poor circulation.

The types of exercises that are most effective for diabetics are walking, jogging or running, cycling, aerobics, swimming or any racquet sports. Exercise is a simple and effective solution to leading a rich life with Type 2 Diabetes.

Control your Diabetes and exercise by joining a Virgin Active Health Club
Virgin Active Health Club is a leading health and fitness brand in South Africa. We offer individual personal training as well as fitness classes such as aerobics and spinning. Become a member now and start planning your exercise program to improve and control your Diabetes.