Diabetic Exercise Program: Work Out Routines Designed with Diabetics in Mind

To properly manage diabetes, it's not only important to eat well balanced, diabetic-friendly meals, but it's also important to engage in a healthy exercise program. Whether you're suffering from Type-1 or Type-2 diabetes, exercise can help you stay healthy and promote more stabilized blood sugar levels. While there are many exercise programs to choose from, the basic three types of exercise are aerobic exercise, strength training, and flexibility exercise. A complete physical activity routine should include all three, according to the American Diabetes Association.

Aerobic Exercise

If you're diabetic, managing your weight is vital to your health. Thus, aerobic exercise can help you lose weight or maintain a healthy weight. It increases the heart rate, increases the breathing rate, and works your muscles. According to the American Diabetes Association, the goal for a diabetic person should be to engage in 30 minutes of aerobic exercise each day. Beginners should begin with 10 minutes of aerobic exercise and increase as they feel comfortable. Be sure to discuss activities with your doctor before you begin any program, especially if you have other health concerns or other conditions you're being treated for. A doctor may recommend exercises which will best benefit you. Popular ways to get your daily amount of aerobic exercise include walking, running, biking, rowing, swimming, dancing, tennis, and skating.

Strength Training

Another important thing for diabetic patients to understand is their need for strong bones and muscles. Because diabetes can make it difficult to do minor things, as you age, it's important to keep your body strong and capable. Strength training is a great way to build strong bones and muscles and should be done several times per week. Diabetics can engage in strength training at home, by lifting weights. Or, they can choose to join a strength training class.

Flexibility Exercise

For a complete exercise routine, diabetics should also fit in flexibility exercises. These exercises are similar to stretching, and they can help keep the joints flexible and reduce the chance of injury during other exercises. Each day the diabetic patient should spend 10 minutes stretching their body, before doing their aerobic or strength training exercises.

Engaging in an exercise plan is a great way to stay on top of your diabetic health. Exercise can help you keep your blood sugar in check, gain muscle mass, lose weight and keep your bones, heart and muscles healthy and functioning at their best. Remember, the more you move around, the healthier you'll be!