Health Management for Diabetics – Exercise

Exercise management for diabetic patients plays a pivotal role in the health management of diabetic patients.

【Famous Doctor Files】

Dr. Ben Niu, Deputy Chief Physician, Master Supervisor. Engaged in endocrinology for 15 years, rich clinical experience, good at diabetes diagnosis and treatment.

Diabetic exercise management is to recommend that diabetic patients carry out exercise intervention, it is recommended that diabetics can exercise at least three times a week, at least half an hour or more each time, and to choose moderate intensity or more exercise, such as brisk walking, jogging, cycling, swimming and other aerobic exercise. In addition, some impedance motion can also be selected.

Glucose is the "fuel" for maintaining muscle movement, and glucose in the diet eventually enters the blood circulation, and the blood test measures the concentration of glucose in the blood. In addition, muscles also contain a lot of glucose, but it is stored in the form of glycogen. When energy is needed, these glycogen are broken down into glucose and enter the bloodstream. When exercise begins, the body uses glucose from muscle glycogen and liver glycogen as "fuel," and when these reserves are almost exhausted, the muscles ingest glucose from the blood for their own use. Blood sugar levels gradually drop during exercise, and after exercise, the body stores glucose in muscle cells and liver, at which point blood sugar decreases further and lasts until several hours after exercise.

Exercise can improve insulin sensitivity, improve glucose metabolism disorders; help control blood sugar, for mild diabetes or better controlled diabetic patients, because exercise makes the use of glucose by peripheral tissues increase, can reduce blood sugar levels to varying degrees; is conducive to improving lipid metabolism, exercise therapy has the effect of reducing blood cholesterol in patients; it is conducive to weight adjustment, physical exercise can make excess fat tissue in diabetic patients clear, and the amount of muscle and physical strength increases Help prevent and treat other diseases or complications associated with diabetes, exercise can delay the development of insulin resistance, reduce blood sugar, regulate fat, reduce blood viscosity; exercise can promote the recovery of brain fatigue, improve the function of the nervous system, so that patients feel very full mentally, self-confidence and fully enjoy the joy of life, improve work efficiency.

Diabetic exercise therapy is most appropriate for obese patients with type 2 diabetes, as well as for patients with mild to moderate type 2 diabetes and stable type 1 diabetes. For type 2 sugar friends, as long as they are sure that they do not have the above unsuitable conditions for exercise, they generally do not have to postpone exercise due to high blood sugar. However, if the blood glucose > 16.7 mmol/L during strenuous physical activity, caution should be exercised to ensure adequate hydration. Blood glucose monitoring should be strengthened before and after exercise, and diet and drug treatment regimens should be temporarily adjusted during large or strenuous exercise to avoid hypoglycemia. Compared with type 2 diabetic friends, type 1 diabetic friends tend to have greater fluctuations in blood glucose with exogenous insulin, so blood glucose management before and during exercise is more stringent.

(Source: Yunnan Population and Health Publicity and Education Center)