Share:

When you have diabetes, taking care of yourself involves more than simply checking your blood sugar and taking medication each day. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle through diet, exercise, and stress management is also an important part of diabetes management. This doesn’t mean that you need to spend hours in the gym. Aiming for 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise every week can have a measurable impact on your blood sugar while keeping your weight down and helping reduce stress. Below are a few exercises to try to help you maintain a healthy lifestyle. 

What Are the Best Exercises for Diabetes Management?

1. Walking

Walking is one of the best exercises for people with diabetes, as it’s easy to do and doesn’t require any special equipment other than a sturdy pair of shoes. Taking a brisk walk every day raises your heart rate and provides you with a great aerobic workout. It also gives you a chance to get outside and soak up some sunshine and fresh air. 

2. Yoga

Yoga helps you relax and reduces stress, which can have an effect on blood sugar levels. It also improves strength and flexibility while building muscle mass. This increased muscle mass may help reduce blood glucose levels, which is an important aspect of diabetes management. Studies have also shown that yoga helps reduce body fat and insulin resistance in diabetics.

3. Swimming

Swimming is an excellent aerobic workout, and it’s especially healthy for diabetics because it doesn’t put pressure on the joints or feet. Because diabetes can reduce blood flow to your extremities, your feet are prone to developing complications like neuropathy. This causes a loss of feeling in your feet and affects your ability to heal from injury. For this reason, swimming is a great exercise for burning calories and getting your heart rate up without the risk of injury. 

4. Tai Chi

diabetes manangementExercise doesn’t have to involve working up a sweat to be considered for diabetes management. Tai Chi, a series of controlled, flowing movements, combines stress reduction and exercise in one. This helps burn calories, improves balance, and controls blood sugar. In one study, researchers found that Tai Chi can help significantly improve blood sugar control while also supporting mental health and overall well-being. 

5. Biking

Whether you opt for a stationary bike or head out for a ride outdoors, biking is an excellent choice for diabetes management. Not only is it an aerobic exercise that gets your heart rate up and burns calories, but it also helps stimulate blood flow to the legs, reducing the risk of neuropathy in your feet. 

 

For help with diabetes management in Soldotna, AK, turn to the providers at Peninsula Community Health Services. Offering a wide range of services to help you stay on top of your diabetes, this compassionate team of doctors and medical providers are committed to helping you live a healthy life. Learn more about their services online and follow their Facebook page for updates. To schedule an appointment, call (907) 262-3119.

tracking