Type 2 Diabetes - Aerobic Activity Is Important For Diabetics!

Aerobic activity makes you breathe harder and helps your lungs and heart function better. It conditions you in a way that allows your body to be healthier over the long-term. Examples of aerobic activity include:

    walking,
    swimming,
    jogging, and
    biking.

For anyone diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, aerobic activity is very important not just to burn calories but to help lower blood sugar levels. Exercise benefits diabetics by reducing blood sugar, adipose fat levels, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and more. For these reasons, adding aerobic exercise to your daily regimen is critical in helping to reverse Type 2 diabetes.

The majority of experts currently recommend most people getting about 30 minutes of moderate exercise at least 5 to 6 days a week. Has it been a while since you exercised? Then pick 2 days a week where you can fit in 10 minutes of exercise. Over a few weeks, add extra time and then days until you reach your goal of 5 or 6 days.

Of course, diabetics have other complications and issues that have to be dealt with, and more than likely you will need to work up to the 5 or 6 days. This also means it's important for you to review with your doctor your choice of exercise before you start any kind of exercise program. Some diabetics have complications that may require modifications be made to certain exercises in order to make them safe. For instance, if you already have heart disease, your doctor may want you to modify the way you work out.

One great way to get aerobic exercise is simply by taking a brisk walk. Almost everyone can do that. You can walk on a:

    treadmill,
    outside, (explore your neighborhood resources),
    even use one of the DVD walking programs you can purchase at retail stores and online.

The main idea is to get your body moving and keep it moving for a consistent period of time.

Choose an activity that is interesting... it's really important to find something you will enjoy doing. If you never liked swimming, don't enrol in a swimming group. For people who would rather have something to look forward to, you might decide to take an aerobics class or even a dance class. Dancing is definitely a great aerobic activity as long as it's something you're doing consistently. You don't want a fitness activity that stops and starts... that is more what you would call circuit training. For aerobic activity, you want something that you start doing and continue doing for at least 30 minutes.

Another great aerobic activity is swimming. Many people have joint problems or other issues that don't allow them to walk on hard pavement. Swimming can take the stress off of your joints but still allow you to get aerobic activity in.

Another option for aerobic activity is taking a bike ride. You can either purchase a bike and ride it around your neighborhood or the local park, or you can use a stationary bike and get the same effect. Place your stationary bike in the middle of one of the most used rooms in the house... the kitchen, family room or bedroom. Equipment placed in the garage or basement gets forgotten.

As you can see, there are many options when it comes to aerobic activity. You don't have to be a runner in order to condition your heart and lungs. Instead, it's about being consistent and working your way up to more advanced exercise.

Diabetes and Depression: A Silent Side-Effect

One of biggest, and most silent, side effects of having diabetes is the toll it can take on your state of mind. The fact that it is a life long condition makes it a heavy burden to carry and some days it will weigh more than others. It's thought that a lot of diabetics go through some form of mental anguish or depression at some point in their lives and dealing with this often isn't spoken about or dealt with the same emphasis that is place on blood sugar control and insulin management.

I want to start by saying I am not a mental health professional, but I have had type 1 diabetes for more than a decade and I have experienced my fair share of highs and low (both glucose and mindset based!). I feel this qualifies me to speak on this subject in the hope that my experiences may help other people with diabetes who often find it's too much of a burden.