Diabetes Shoppe: Your Partners in Diabetes Care
Understanding Exercise
It is no secret that exercise is good for everyone. The benefits of exercise are well
known. Exercise can decrease the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and anxiety.
Exercise can also improve flexibility and improve your self-esteem.
If you have diabetes, exercise will help you stay healthy by improving your blood sugar
control and by reducing the risk of further complications. Exercise can lower
your blood sugar by burning it as fuel. If you reduce the number of calories you
consume, you can
also lose excess weight. Exercise can strengthen your heart, circulatory system, and lungs.
The easy part of exercise is understanding the benefits. The difficult part of exercise is
actually getting started. If you have been relatively inactive, it is best to start
slowly. Exercise does not have to be strenuous to be beneficial, but you must do it at
least three times a week.
The following are a few precautions that should be considered:
 | Do not exercise if your blood sugar is 300 or over. The exercise might increase, rather than decrease, your blood sugar level. |
| Get a physical check-up from your doctor prior to beginning your exercise program. |
| If necessary, plan for an extra snack while exercising. |
| Have a concentrated source of sugar available for emergencies. |
| Wear a medical alert ID tag stating that you have diabetes. |
