Safety Tips While Exercising
August 26, 2007 by Max Peykar
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Loading ...If you have been unfortunate enough to get diabetes then it is very important for you to maintain an exercise and heath regime because glucose and insulin in your blood are directly related to exercises. If you have diabetes then you must exercise regularly. The few precautions that you must take before exercising should not overshadow the essential benefits you receive from exercise.
By incorporating proper medication, a healthy diet and especially habitual exercise in your lifestyle you can live a hale and hearty life.
To begin with, you must consult your doctor to know about your diabetes and exercise. It depends on the glucose level in your blood and the amount of insulin that you are taking and its effects and vice versa.
Before you start exercising you must take appropriate care like wearing an ID tag to indicate that you have diabetes so that you may get proper treatment in case of an emergency.
You should stretch for at least five minutes before and after your workout. You must start gradually with a low-impact and simple exercise such as walking, swimming, or biking. Do not start your diabetes exercises with a jerk but start with five minutes and increase this duration each day. You must also as a precaution against sudden high blood pressure avoid lifting heavy weights.
You must always carry a snack with you in case you get low blood sugar. If you are an insulin user then you should exercise after eating high carbohydrate food because insulin level and exercise are closely related. You must test your blood sugar before, during and after exercising. But you must not exercise when your blood sugar is more than 240.
Next, do take adequate precautions so that you don’t get any foot infection due to sweaty socks or ill fitting shoes.
Hypoglycemia is a big risk amongst Type 2 diabetics. The rise in glucose absorption by the muscles produces a lower level of blood glucose which can continue for about 12 - 24 hours. The warning signs of hypoglycemic reactions are excessive sweating, trembling, increased hunger, rapid heart rate, drowsiness, palpitations and sudden mood changes. In such a case you should take a blood-glucose test to check your sugar level immediately.
Do take a 10 - 15 minutes rest and retest blood-glucose level before resuming exercise. Don’t exercise if it is below 100 mg/dl. Fatty foods should be avoided since it blocks the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream. You should never exercise if your blood sugar is low.
Exercising along with a friend helps to motivate and also protect you. It is a good idea to have a friend with you in case of any emergency and you must also avoid exercising in isolated areas.
Exercise and good nutrition can give you a full life and help improve the quality of your added years. But it is important for a diabetic to keep his abilities as well as limitations in mind before starting any diabetic exercise regime.
Posted in Exercise And Diabetes
