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Top 10 Reasons to Exercise
Physical activity is key to controlling your diabetes
Over two million Canadians have diabetes, and the number is growing rapidly. North American lifestyles play a huge role in this increase. If you have diabetes, exercise is one of the best tools for managing it.
1 Exercise helps to control weight
Regular exercise helps to control weight gain and even reduce excess body fat. Staying at a healthy weight is part of managing your diabetes.
2 Exercise increases metabolism
Increased exercise elevates your metabolism. This in turn helps you to control body weight and burn fat.
3 Exercise lowers blood glucose levels
One of the major symptoms of diabetes is high blood glucose. Activity makes your body more sensitive to the insulin you make. It also burns glucose (calories). Both lower your blood glucose.
4 Exercise helps keep high blood pressure under control
High blood pressure can lead to eye disease, stroke, heart and kidney disease. Everyone with diabetes should maintain a blood pressure level at or below 130/80. Exercise and diet are the most important ways to control blood pressure.
5 Exercise combats stress.
Reducing stress in day-to-day life can help you better manage your diabetes. Exercise has been proven to be one of the best ways to lower stress.
6 Exercise reduces nerve damage
Diabetes can cause all kinds of nerve damage, even to the point where amputation is required. Exercise increases your circulation and reduces high blood glucose levels which will help offset potential nerve damage.
7 Exercise lowers the risk of eye damage
Over time, diabetes can cause eye problems, even blindness. By lowering your blood glucose levels, increasing circulation and limiting nerve damage, exercise cuts the risk of eye problems.
8Exercise can help reduce the amount of medication you need
Want to take less insulin or pills? Activity can lower blood glucose and weight. This can reduce the amount of medication you need.
9 Exercise is a proven prevention
With regular exercise and a proper diet, you increase your chances of delaying complications of diabetes.
10 Exercise boosts your spirit
Any health problem or disease can be a huge blow, both mentally and physically. Exercise releases endorphins. This has been proven to increase confidence and self esteem, and makes us feel better about ourselves.
There is no better time to begin living actively than now. Lack of exercise and poor diet are two of the biggest factors in developing type 2 diabetes. By exercising as little as 30 minutes a day and eating a healthy diet, you can reduce your risk of developing diabetes by 60 per cent.
FAMILY HEALTH is written with the assistance of |
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FAMILY HEALTH is written with the assistance of |
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