“How does exercise affect diabetes?” is the first question a diabetic patient asks when told by a doctor that one of the best things that can be done in order to treat his condition is to exercise regularly. In fact, lifestyle modification through diet and exercise is the single best way that type 2 diabetes can be controlled, and includes none of the side effects that come with having to take prescriptions. So, how does exercise affect diabetes?
Exercise Uses Up Excess Blood Glucose
The first and most immediately observable effect of exercise on type 2 diabetes is that it lowers your blood sugar levels. While you are exercising, the muscles need additional energy in order to function at their peak, so they use up some of the excess glucose that is already in the blood stream. This effect is most readily observed with exercises that burn calories quickly, as in cardiovascular exercises like running, biking, or swimming.
That is not to say that there is no place in a diabetic workout program for strength training. In fact, strength training is one of those health tips that can make all the different when it comes to the successful treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Strength training, when done correctly, results in an increase in muscle mass. There are two reasons why diabetics should work to build additional muscle mass as part of their new lifestyle. The first is that the enhanced muscle tissue does not have nearly the same degree of insulin resistance that previous tissue once had, so it is more readily able to use up the glucose in the blood. The second, and more directly useful reason, is that muscle tissue, even when it is at rest, burns more calories and consumes more glucose than fat tissue. These combined can do a lot towards helping you achieve normal blood sugar levels.
Photo Credit: Hans Thoursie
Exercise Helps You Lose Weight
Any doctor will tell you that weight loss is one of the key components of treating type 2 diabetes. The reason for this has to do with your endocrine system. When fat tissue is present, it triggers the release of a particular type of white blood cells known as macrophages, which are normally released in response to an infection. These macrophages enter the fat tissue and release cytokines, a normally benign compound that, when present for an extended period of time, leads to insulin resistance and later to type 2 diabetes.
The good news for you is that substantial and sustained weight loss reduces the amount of fat tissue, which in turn reduces the amount of cytokines in your blood and thus your insulin resistance. While it is not enough to say that you are “cured” of your diabetes, it certainly goes a very long way in helping you to keep your blood sugar levels normal.
Exercise Improves Overall Health
You can’t answer the question, “How does exercise affect diabetes?” without speaking about the variety of other ways that exercise can improve the health of someone, particularly someone who has type 2 diabetes. It improves bone density, cardiovascular function, improves poor circulation, reduces stress, lowers blood pressure, increases stamina, improves blood chemistry, and more.
Concerns and Safety Precautions
Aside from potential injury and interference with other medical problems, which we will discuss in a moment, your primary risk when you engage in vigorous exercise comes from hypoglycemia, or allowing your blood sugar levels to drop too low. This can potentially result in dizziness or even fainting.
This is why it is vitally important that you speak with your doctor before beginning any new exercise plan. This is especially true if you are very overweight, out of shape, or have any other medical considerations that need to be taken into account. In order to prevent injury and other potential complications, this is a step that you cannot skip. How does exercise affect diabetes? With dedication and hard work, it may be the key to returning to a normal blood sugar level for good.
