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One of the
simplest and most effective ways to bring down blood glucose
levels, cut the risk of cardiovascular disease, and improve
overall health and well-being is physical fitness and exercise.
Yet, in our increasingly sedentary world, where almost every
essential task can be performed online, from the driver’s seat, or
with a phone call, exercising and being physically fit can be
tough case to sell.
In reality, everyone should exercise, yet survey shows that only
30% of the United States adult population gets the recommended
thirty minutes of daily physical activity, and 25% are not active
at all.
Inactivity is
thought to be one of the key reasons for the surge of type 2
diabetes in America, because inactivity and obesity promote
insulin resistance and other factors that trigger other kinds of
diseases.
The good news is that it is never too late to get moving, and
exercise is one of the easiest ways to start controlling the onset
of any kinds of diseases. For people who are already candidates
for some serious diseases like diabetes and heart failure,
exercise and physical fitness can improve the condition of some
parts of the body like insulin sensitivity, lower the risk of
heart disease, and promote weight loss.
In 2003, the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism had
published an issue regarding the result of their study and found
out that lack of exercise and physical fitness were the key
factors behind obesity and other serious diseases like diabetes.
Hence, it is extremely important for a person to stay healthy and
be physically fit in order to avoid such illnesses.
Getting Started
The first order of business with any exercise plan, especially if
you are a “dyed-in-the-wool” couch potato, is to consult with your
health care provider.
If you have cardiac factors, your doctor may want to perform a
stress test to establish a safe level of exercise for you.
Certain complications of some diseases will also dictate what type
of exercise program you can take on. Activities like
weightlifting, jogging, or high-impact aerobics can possibly pose
a risk for people with diabetic retinopathy due to the risk for
further blood vessel damage and possible “retinal detachment.”
Health experts also contend that patients with sever peripheral
neuropathy or PN should avoid foot-intensive weight-bearing
exercises such as long-distance walking, jogging, or step aerobics
and opt instead for low-impact activities like swimming, biking,
and rowing.
If you have conditions that make exercise and physical fitness a
challenge, your provider may refer you to an exercise physiologist
who can design a fitness program for your specific needs.
If you are already active in sports or work out regularly, it will
still benefit you to discuss your regular routine with your
doctor.
The bottom line is that physical fitness and exercise should not
have to be a rigid activity and should not come off strong. Your
exercise routine can be as simple as a brisk nightly neighborhood
walk, walking the dog, or simply taking the stairs instead of the
elevator. The important thing is that you keep on moving. Every
little bit really helps a lot.
In the end, you will realize that the many things that good food
can bring you are equally the same as what physical fitness can do
for you.
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