Exercising leads to many benefits for diabetics, but a diabetic patient must exercise according to specific steps and rules so that he does not have any health problems during exercise, and this is what we will explain in this article.
1- What is diabetes? How does sport affect him?
Diabetes results from a high concentration of sugar in the blood due to a deficiency in the production of the sugar-lowering hormone insulin or the body’s complete abstention from producing this hormone. Therefore, diabetes has two types: the first type, in which the body is completely unable to produce insulin, and then the patient needs insulin injections for a period of time. In the second type, the body is only able to produce insulin partially, and thus it can suffice with taking blood sugar-lowering medications.
Exercise helps patients with type 2 diabetes maintain a healthy weight and reduce the risk of heart disease. Exercise also has a beneficial effect for patients with type 1 diabetes, but they must monitor blood sugar concentrations more closely than with type 2 diabetes to prevent low blood sugar during exercise.
2- Important instructions for diabetics when exercising
Before starting the exercise, you must tell those around you or who is exercising with you that you are diabetic.
If you are a diabetic patient who takes blood sugar-lowering medications, you should always carry with you foods that contain quickly absorbed carbohydrates, such as fruits, glucose tablets, or sugary drinks.
Every person must drink sufficient amounts of water or fluids when exercising, and especially a diabetic patient must pay attention to supplying a sufficient amount of fluids because dehydration negatively affects blood sugar concentration, and a diabetic patient must drink at least 8 ounces of water (8 cups) before During and after exercise to keep the body hydrated.
Attention must be paid to monitoring blood sugar before and after exercising, because the body uses blood sugar as a source of energy during exercise, and thus its concentrations decrease. Usually, a blood sugar concentration between 100-250 mg/dL is considered appropriate to start exercising without fears, and diabetic patients with high blood pressure or any other complications are advised to Not doing high-intensity exercises.
If the blood sugar concentration is very high and the patient is type 1 diabetic, the concentrations of ketones in the blood (compounds that form in the blood when blood sugar is low) must be tested, and if they are present, exercise must be avoided. However, if the blood sugar concentration is very low, you must eat something before starting exercise. .
You should consult a doctor if you want to practice high-intensity exercises if you suffer from any chronic diseases such as diabetes.
3- Signs of low blood sugar during exercise
It may be difficult to distinguish the signs of low blood sugar during exercise, but they share a group of signs: a sudden feeling of fatigue, excessive sweating, a feeling of numbness or tingling in the hands or tongue, trembling of the hands, and unusual changes in vision. Therefore, when you feel these symptoms, you should eat a fast carbohydrate. Absorption to restore blood sugar concentration.
4- Recommended exercises for diabetics
The American Family Physicians Association recommends consulting a doctor when determining the appropriate exercise pattern for each health condition. For diabetics, one can start with moderate-intensity aerobic exercises that strengthen the lungs and heart, such as walking, dancing, running, or joining aerobic classes at the club.
If there is damage to the feet of a diabetic patient, it is possible to practice exercises that preserve the health of the legs, such as riding a bicycle or swimming, and pay attention to wearing comfortable shoes and socks. The duration of the exercise can be increased by 5-10 minutes at a time so that the daily exercise is for 30 minutes.
In conclusion, we emphasize that exercising is very beneficial for a diabetic patient so that he can enjoy a healthy lifestyle without any complications or other diseases. Attention must always be paid to controlling blood sugar concentrations so that exercising can be done safely.
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