November is Diabetes Awareness Month—the perfect time to focus on maintaining diabetes health! Many people think that diabetic exercise is an oxymoron. We are here to tell you that not only can you engage in physical activity, but it’s actually recommended that you do in order to help maintain a healthy weight and get your blood flowing.
If you are diagnosed with diabetes, you shouldn’t feel like you can no longer do everything you enjoy. You can still participate in many of the things you did before without being fearful. It’s important to manage your condition with insulin, good eating habits, and diabetic exercise. Keep in mind that not all circumstances are equal, so you should talk with us before beginning a new exercise regimen. You may even want to have a stress test done to monitor your heart and make sure everything is looking good.
Once you get the go ahead, remember to always start off slowly. Don’t push your body to its limits right away or you may end up with an injury. Begin with something very low-impact to ease into your exercise program. You can take a short walk or try stationary cycling at the local fitness center. Since your blood sugar is higher about an hour after eating, this is an ideal time to get in a work out. Make sure you are monitoring your glucose levels both before and after you are done exercising. Do this every day to determine how your body is reacting to your level of activity. In addition, take extra precautions, especially if you will be out on a trail. This means wearing good shoes and protective wear against the sun. You should also always have glucose tablets, water, and a snack just in case your levels drop.
These are just some steps you can take to exercise safely. For more information on maintaining diabetes health or to discuss a diabetic exercise program, call Dr. Mitchell Wachtel at (978) 794-8406 to schedule an appointment at our Haverhill, MA office.