Diabetes Information

Diabetes and Fitness


There are two main types of diabetes, type I and type II. Type I diabetes is characterized by the pancreas making too little or no insulin. An individual with diabetes type I will have to inject insulin throughout the day in order to control glucose levels. Type II diabetes, also known as adult onset diabetes, is characterized by the pancreas not producing enough insulin to control glucose levels or the cells not responding to insulin. When a cell does not respond to insulin, it is known as insulin resistance. When a subject is diagnosed with type II diabetes, exercise and weight control are prescribed as measures to help with insulin resistance. If this does not control glucose levels, then medication is prescribed. The risk factors for type II diabetes include: inactivity, high cholesterol, obesity, and hypertension. Inactivity alone is a very strong risk factor that has been proven to lead to diabetes type II. Exercise will have a positive effect on diabetes type II while improving insulin sensitivity while type I cannot be controlled be an exercise program. Over 90% of individuals with diabetes have type II.

Exercise causes the body to process glucose faster, which lowers blood sugar. The more intense the exercise, the faster the body will utilize glucose. Therefore it is important to understand the differences in training with type I and type II diabetes. It is important for an individual who has diabetes to check with a physician before beginning an exercise program. When training with a diabetic, it is important to understand the dangers of injecting insulin immediately prior to exercise. An individual with type I diabetes injecting their normal amount of insulin for a sedentary situation can pose the risk of hypoglycemia or insulin shock during exercise. General exercise guidelines for type I are as follows: allow adequate rest during exercise sessions to prevent high blood pressure, use low impact exercises and avoid heavy weight lifting, and always have a supply of carbohydrates nearby. If blood sugar levels get too low, the individual may feel shaky, disoriented, hungry, anxious, become irritable or experience trembling. Consuming a carbohydrate snack or beverage will alleviate these symptoms in a matter of minutes.

Before engaging in exercise, it is important for blood sugar levels to be tested to make sure that they are not below 80 to 100 mg/dl range and not above 250 mg/dl. Glucose levels should also be tested before, during, after and three to five hours after exercise. During this recovery period (3-5 hours after exercise), it is important for diabetics to consume ample carbohydrates in order to prevent hypoglycemia.

Exercise will greatly benefit an individual with type II diabetes because of its positive effects on insulin sensitivity. Proper exercise and nutrition are the best forms of prevention for type II diabetics. It is important for training protocols to be repeated almost daily to help with sustaining insulin sensitivity. To prevent hypoglycemia, progressively work up to strenuous activity.

As with individuals with type I diabetes, carbohydrates should also be present during training to assist in raising blood sugar levels if the individual becomes low.

William is a personal trainer and runs http://www.myfightclub.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Los Angeles Times

Pre-diabetes is worth treating
Los Angeles Times, CA - Sep 5, 2008
Diabetes serves as a perfect example -- so much so that the gray zone has earned its own name: pre-diabetes. As its name implies, pre-diabetes is ...
Lifestyle Rx: Today, lifestyle choices can disarm diabetes Enterprise-Record
all 3 news articles


Help nominate a low-carb doctor for the 2008 Diabetes Educator of ...
CarbWire.com - 11 hours ago
It's that time again for nominations for Diabetes Educator of the Year for 2008 and last year was a close one. I promoted and encouraged my readers to vote ...


Allen teams up with foundation to 'sack diabetes' | KXNet.com ...
KXMC, ND - 17 hours ago
Allen has teamed up with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation to launch an initiative called "Sack Diabetes." Allen will donate $3000 for every sack he ...


Children facing adult-size health issues
Honolulu Advertiser, HI - 2 hours ago
By Christie Wilson In a single generation's time, type 2 diabetes has become so prevalent in children it's no longer known by its traditional label of ...
'Silent disease' eating at Hawaii's health Honolulu Advertiser
Hawaiians dying young Honolulu Advertiser
UH professor, diagnosed at 8, aims 'to be there for my family' Honolulu Advertiser
all 4 news articles


Employers getting on board
Honolulu Advertiser, HI - 2 hours ago
By Dan Nakaso The Hawai'i chapter of the American Diabetes Association is trying to make companies and their employees more aware of diabetes prevention and ...
For AIG chief, diagnosis was an eye-opener Honolulu Advertiser
all 2 news articles


Tests reveal best kits to watch your blood pressure, diabetes
Modesto Bee, CA - 55 minutes ago
When it comes to self-monitoring kits for hypertension and diabetes, Consumer Reports found big differences in accuracy and consistency. In a recent report, ...


Diabetes on the rise in US
Americus Times-Recorder, GA - 9 hours ago
Twenty four million Americans are afflicted with diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since 2005, three million Americans ...


Peninsula On-line

Alarming rise in diabetes among children
Peninsula On-line, Qatar - 12 hours ago
by huda nv DOHA • Studies in Qatar have revealed that 40 percent of the children in the country are suffering from different kinds of diabetes, according to ...


Link Between Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes And Neurodegeneration
Medical News Today (press release), UK - 6 hours ago
New research from Rhode Island Hospital found that obesity and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) can contribute to mild neurodegeneration with features common ...


The Connection Between Diabetes and Hair Loss
Corsavoo.com, France - 15 hours ago
Before looking into the possible links between hair loss and diabetes, let us first examine and understand both their basics. Human head hair may seem to ...

Diabetes - Google News

home | site map
© 2006