by Patricia A. Coldiron

Created on: April 08, 2010

Do you feel frustrated because your blood sugar levels are high, yet you’ve been taking medication according to your doctor’s instructions, and sticking to a diabetic diet? You may need to add exercise to your daily routine.

When you have diabetes, your body either doesn’t make enough insulin, or is unable to effectively use the insulin it makes. Exercising helps your body become more responsive to insulin, so you need less insulin to keep your blood sugar levels normal.

Becoming more physically active can reduce your risk of diabetic complications such as heart and kidney disease, as well as damage to your eyes and nerves. Regular exercise can help lower blood pressure and LDL cholesterol, improve HDL, which is the good cholesterol, boost circulation, increase energy, and alleviate stress levels.

 Monitoring Blood Sugar

 Before you begin your workout, test your blood sugar. You shouldn’t exercise if your blood sugar is too high or too low. Ask your doctor what your blood sugar level range should be for exercise .If you’re blood sugar is within acceptable levels, test your blood sugar during your workout, and again when you’re finished exercising.

As you become more active, you may experience a drop in your blood sugar levels, and you may experience symptoms such as weakness, feeling dizzy, shakiness, and irritability. Keep a healthy snack on hand to combat low blood sugar. Snacks such as wheat crackers with peanut butter, a small piece of fruit, such as an apple, pear, or nectarine, pretzels, or air popped popcorn can help keep blood sugar levels steady.

Exercise Tips

Check with your doctor before you start an exercise program. If you suffer from diabetic complications, your exercise choices may be limited. For example, if you suffer from nerve damage in your feet, instead of walking for exercise, your doctor may recommend that you try swimming.

Start off at a slow pace, and gradually increase the time and intensity of your workout. Start with a 5 to 10 minute workout, and gradually build up your exercise until you are exercising 30 minutes a day on most days of the week.

If you enjoy dancing, hiking, or riding your bicycle, center your exercise routines around these activities. You’ll be much more likely to exercise if it is an activity that you really enjoy.

To prevent dehydration, drink water before you start exercising, and carry a water bottle with you so that you can drink water during and after you exercise.

Wear comfortable shoes with good arch support, and that fit your feet. After exercising, check your feet to make sure that you don’t have any sores or blisters. If you have developed a blister or sore, see your doctor.

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