Diabetes and aerobic exercise (Cardiovascular exercise)
Diabetes is closely related to blood glucose levels. Blood glucose levels are closely related to the amount aerobic exercise you have in general. Thus we can say that Diabetes and aerobic exercise (Cardiovascular exercise) are closely related to each other, of course on opposite sides of the balance.
We need glucose in our blood to all the activities of the body. It is the fuel of our body. Many internal tissues and
diabetes and aerobic exercise
organs of our body keep working even when we sleep and take rest. This demands a continuous supply of glucose in our body. There are healthy upper and lower limits of this blood glucose level. Our food is the main source of glucose to us. Majority of the food we eat ultimately converts into glucose by our digestive system. In general we eat three or four times a day, but we need 24 hours glucose supply to our body. That is why we have a glucose storage system in our body. This system (in liver and pancreas) converts glucose produced by our digestive system in to a more stable substance called glycogen with the help of insulin. This glycogen again disintegrates into glucose with the help of a hormone called glucagan. Without this mechanism we will have a very high blood glucose levels immediately after a meal and very low levels of blood glucose after 3 or four hours of our meal. In healthy body insulin production is triggered by food intake and the glucagan production by the falling levels of blood glucose.
When we exercise, we need a lot of energy i.e. a lot of glucose. In other words with exercise, particularly aerobic or cardiovascular exercise, our body is able to cope up with the high blood glucose levels, which are natural to a diabetic person. Exercise give us many other benefits which can help you feel better about yourself and increase your overall health. Exercise can help control your weight and lower your blood sugar level. It also lowers your risk of heart disease, a condition that is common in people who have diabetes. The type of exercise you can do will depend on whether you have any other health problems. Talk to your doctor about what kind of exercise is right for you. Aerobic exercise, which makes you breathe more deeply and makes your heart work harder are mostly recommended for diabetic people. Examples of aerobic exercise include walking, jogging, aerobic dance or bicycling. If you have problems with the nerves in your feet or legs, your doctor may want you to do a type of exercise that won’t put stress on your feet. These exercises include swimming, bicycling, and rowing or chair exercises.
You should warm up before you start and cool down when you’re done. To warm up, spend 5 to 10 minutes doing a low-intensity exercise such as walking. Then gently stretch for another 5 to 10 minutes. Repeat these steps after exercising to cool down. When you start an exercise program, go slowly. Gradually increase the intensity and length of your workout as you get more fit. Talk to your doctor for specific advice. To summarize we can say that aerobic exercise is a better way of increasing insulin sensitivity and fighting with diabetes.
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