Emma Radebaugh
When you were first diagnosed with diabetes, it was likely easy to become overwhelmed by the number of changes you had to make in every aspect of your life. You need to keep track of blood sugar twice a day, take your meds, and change your diet. However, a key part of managing diabetes is following an exercise regimen. You should collaborate with your doctor first before you make any exercise changes, as everyone’s needs are different. But overall, these exercises for people with diabetes are safe to try and will likely take you far in your health and weight loss journey.
Get Your Cardio In
While you should probably ask your doctor about the frequency of your exercise regimen, you can’t deny that cardio is essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and managing diabetes. So what do you do after you’vechosen your best pair of diabetic shoes and are ready to leap? Get out there and walk!
You can go to a nearby park or commandeer a treadmill at the gym. You can even walk back and forth in front of a TV if you want to. You’ll eventually find that you can run. Take it slow at first, and slowly work your way up to walking a half a mile, a whole mile, or further. Basic cardio will make you feel better than living a sedentary lifestyle. Just get moving!
Do Some Yoga
According to a 2016 academic article on the topic, yoga can help people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar and cholesterol levels. As a whole, it’s an excellent way to perform cardio and strength training, as many of the poses help build muscle in the legs, arms, and back. It can also lower your blood pressure and improve your sleep quality. Of course, the exercises also help release endorphins, making you happier overall. Yoga is also grounded in spirituality and can help you feel closer to your religious community too.
Check Out a Pilates Studio
Pilates is a fantastic addition to the workout routines of many people with diabetes. Pilates can help get rid of those pesky love handles and can help develop your core strength, coordination, and balance, which may be compromised in people with diabetes. There are many educational books, videos, and classes online that can help you learn the basics of pilates. However, as with yoga, it might be wise to join a studio to ensure additional social support.
This is far from an exhaustive list, but it is a good place to start if you’re looking to adjust your exercise regimen. Don’t start by trying to run a marathon or do these exercises for long periods; start small and work your way up instead.
