There is no doubt that exercise is
good medicine for everyone but exercise is especially beneficial if you are at
risk for diabetes or have Type 2 Diabetes.
A recent report described a study in
which 73 adults with Type 2 Diabetes were randomly assigned to exercise or just
counseling and followed over 12 months.
All these people with Type 2
Diabetes were using insulin for control of their blood glucose.
The exercise group did both
resistive and aerobic exercise. Resistive exercise strengthens muscles. The
workouts were only twice a week although they lasted 75 minutes and were
supervised.
Well what did the researchers find?
Exercise helped almost everything
that was measured: blood pressure, cholesterol, weight, waist circumference and
Hemoglobin A1c (abbreviated HgbA1c) and more.
Clearly, exercise is good medicine
for diabetes.
In fact the exercising group had an
HgbA1c that was 0.74% lower compared to the other group. And the exercising
group needed less insulin.
As endocrinologists and experts on
diabetes, these findings do not surprise us.
Our team sees these benefits in all
of our patients who start to exercise.
Even if the exercise is walking 3-4
times a week, benefits are seen. As people move more they need less medication
to control their blood glucose. Exercise makes insulin work better. That includes insulin that you make and any insulin that you take.
And exercise helps keep off weight
that you’ve lost.
The Diabetes Prevention Program
showed a 58% reduction in the development of diabetes in those who were at high
risk to get diabetes. Those adults walked 30 minutes five times a week and lost
on average 12 pounds.
Now the term pre-diabetes is used
to describe people who are at high risk of getting diabetes. And the Diabetes
Prevention Program proved that the best treatment for pre-diabetes is exercise and
a little bit of weight loss.
Exercise is good medicine. Exercise is medicine.
Work with your doctors to develop a sensible exercise program. Don't forget to keep those muscles toned. And start
moving today!
I know for a fact that exercise really does help diabetes. I'm a walking example of it. I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes some time late 2009 and the doctors told me that I had 1 year to set myself straight before I had to have insulin jabs everyday. This scared me enough to put me into action.
ReplyDeleteI've personally lost 180lbs since Dec 2009. My blood pressure was 160/110, now its 120/80. My cholesterol was 256 mg/dL, now its 176mg/dL. I'm no longer Pre-Diabetic and I'm in the best shape of my life. It wasn't easy but I can say that everyone can do it if they have the right program.
If you're interested in my story please head over to Zdiets.net
Cheers.
Ryan E. Parker
Ryan: Congratulations on your extraordinary weight loss. Exercise appears to be key to keeping weight off. Although I do not agree with much of what you stated on your home page I appreciate your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteI back up all my statements, as much as possible, with the most rigorous science from randomized controlled clinical trials. There are many claims for weight loss products and approaches that are not supported by sound data.