If you have diabetes, physical activity can help keep your blood-sugar levels closer to normal and can help you keep your diabetes under control. It has many additional health benefits as well, such as lowering cholesterol, improving blood pressure and lowering stress and anxiety.
Of course, it can be difficult to find the time or the motivation to start an exercise program. Everyone's physical abilities and schedules are different. Choose the best ways to fit physical activity into your daily life — whether it's walking to work, doing chair exercises or working out at the gym. The important thing to remember is to choose activities that you enjoy doing and to set goals that are realistic. Your doctor can help you design an activity plan that works for you.
Make a plan for exercise: How often will you do each activity? Work up to five or more days per week. How hard should you be working? You should be able to talk but not sing during an activity. How long will you do the activity each time? Be realistic. Start with 5 or 10 minutes and work up to 30 minutes.
Partner with a friend to find fun ways to be more active. Take your dog for a walk or to play fetch at the park. Call a friend to go dancing or put on your favorite song and make the living room your personal dance floor. Find a gym buddy. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. If you eat lunch with a co-worker, ask him or her to join you for a short walk after lunch.
Source:American Association of Diabetes Educators
Good Neighbor Pharmacy Health Connection, June 2013
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