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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