Stay Fit for Fun and Health: Exercise and Diabetes
Being active is an important part of anyone’s life if they want to stay their healthiest. This is especially true of those who have already been diagnosed with diabetes. In those with Type II Diabetes (the most common), exercise is needed to help keep their condition under control. But you may curious as to how much exercise we actually need, if there are ways to make your lifestyle more active, along with exercise, and what types of exercise is best for you. Read on to find out more about all these topics:
How Much Exercise Do You Need?
For those who are just starting to add exercise to their lifestyles, or restarting an exercise plan after a long time, it is important that you start out slow, and with shorter sessions, and aim to build-up the time you are active every day. Also, the amount of exercise you need depends upon your age. While those we would classify as children and teens need around 60 minutes of physical activity per day, around 30 minutes per day is recommended for optimal health. This daily goal does not change whether you have diabetes or not, though your doctor may ask you to get more exercise if you need weight loss and management. Before you start any kind of fitness plan, be sure to consult with your doctor. They may be able to help you choose the right plan for your health and fitness needs.
What Kinds of Exercise are best for me?
There are all kinds of different exercise you can incorporate into your daily life. Any activity that raises heart rate and causes you to break a light sweat may be considered exercise, whether you are playing a sport or competing with others, or not. Examples of exercise include swimming, jogging, walking, gardening, running, even chores like cleaning house and yard work. Once you understand this, it is much easier to meet your daily goal for exercise. If you are curious about how you can better incorporate such activities into your daily lifestyle, read a few of the tips below and start using them today.
Tips on Being Active
- Do chores on a daily basis. Examples include cleaning house, raking leaves, or gardening.
- Push yourself to take the stairs instead of the elevator whenever possible.
- Instead of making short trips in the car, walk or bike to your destinations that are close by.
- When shopping, be sure to explore each aisle, even if you do not need to.
- Take cell phone calls outside, and walk while on the phone.
- Stretch, walk, or jog in place while watching television or movies in your own home.
- Park as far away from stores you are entering as possible, and then walk there.
- During your breaks at work, or around once an hour, get-up and walk around, or go climb the stairs. Not only will this provide you with exercise, but also with quick stress relief.