3021 The importance of physical activity when you have Diabetes
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Hello.
It is well known that being psychically active is good for us, but this is especially true if you have diabetes.
This video will explain the benefits of exercise,
and what you can do to keep active.
Psychical activity is known to improve
your diabetes control in a number of simple ways.
When you are psychically active, the
cells in your body use lots of sugar for energy.
This lowers your blood sugar level, reducing your risk of suffering from long term complications of your diabetes.
Insulin is used more efficiently when you are active,
which improves your blood sugar control,
this means if you are taking medication
or insulin to control your diabetes you
may be able to reduce how much you take.
Psychical activity uses energy which helps you to lose weight.
This is especially important in type 2 diabetes where we know that weight loss can improve your diabetes
and in some cases actually
reverse the progression of diabetes.
Being active helps to strengths your
bones and reduces your blood pressure.
Psychical activity increases your energy levels,
improves your mood and confidence
and reduces the likelihood of depression and anxiety.
The amount of time you need to
be active for depends on how hard you work.
Moderate levels of activity makes you warm, slightly sweaty and a little bit breathless, but still able to talk.
You will notice your heart beating in your chest.
You should aim to do two and a half
hours of moderate activity a week.
Vigorous levels of activity will
make you very hot and sweaty,
very breathless and unable to say more than a few words.
Your heart will be beating very hard in your chest.
If you choose to exercise at this level of intensity, you need to do one and a quarter hours a week.
We recommend that you spread your exercise throughout
the week to make it more manageable.
For example, you could do moderate activity for
thirty minutes, five times a week.
The first step is to make being
psychically active a priority.
Once you recognise that psychical
activity will improve your quality of life
and your diabetes control, it will be
much easier to motivate yourself.
Walking is the easiest way to increase
the amount of activity you do.
Here are some simple ways to combine
walking into your daily routine:
Take the stairs instead of the lift.
Cancel milk and paper deliveries so
that you have to walk to the shops.
Get off the bus a stop earlier.
Try to walk instead of taking the car.
Park the car further away from your office, or the shops.
Having a dog is a great way to get out walking every day.
If you want to start something new,
find an activity that you enjoy,
and perhaps ask a friend or relative to join you.
Some people like to join running clubs,
or go to classes at their gym.
Others like to go to dance classes, or take up cycling,
but it is more important to find something that
you want to do so that you keep it up.
Keeping active, as well as eating a healthy diet
and taking your diabetes medications
correctly will all help you to control your diabetes, and reduce the risk of long term complications.