Diabetes has become an epidemic worldwide that results from a sedentary lifestyle. Stress is another factor that can lead to this disease. Unhealthy eating over a prolonged duration is also a significant factor that can cause diabetes. You cannot ignore the genetic aspect of it. But if this is prevalent in your family, then you need to be extra cautious to control it.
Let us understand the types of diabetes first to get into more depth here.
Types of Diabetes
There are two types of diabetes- type 1 and type 2. Type 2 diabetes is a condition that affects how the body processes blood sugar. The body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or resists it. This is prevalent in a vast number of individuals. The good news is diabetes can be delayed with the proper diet and exercise. Lifestyle changes can help control this condition.
How does exercise affect blood sugar?
A sedentary lifestyle should be avoided. By exercise, we do not mean you work out for an hour and remain inactive for the rest of the day. You need to move the entire day. Apart from that, a one-hour workout daily for at least 4-5 days a week can help improve your glycaemic control. Adults who have type-2 diabetes should avoid prolonged sitting. Pre-meal walks and post-meal walks should be added to the routine.
Not just exercise, diet change also is a must. You need to reduce the amount of carbohydrate intake, switch to a gluten-free diet and incorporate more fruits and veggies into the diet. Any sugary food should be absolutely avoided. Dietary change is a significant part of controlling your health, and exercise is just a tiny part of it, but both of them need to go hand in hand to see actual change. Join a gym to actually get into a routine. You will be motivated to work out more when you get a membership. CrossFit Classes are also known to have significant benefits in terms of losing weight and controlling your blood glucose level; hence, you can consider joining one.
Exercise helps control weight, lower blood pressure, lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, increase healthy HDL cholesterol, and strengthen bones and muscles. Besides physical health, exercise also helps release endorphins, also known as happy hormones, improving general well-being.
The Bottom Line
Any form of exercise is known to lower your blood glucose levels. Still, if you are under medication and under some doctor’s supervision, you should definitely check out with the doctor to ensure you are on the right track. Starving yourself will not help as people who take medication also have high chances of lower blood sugar if their diet is not proper, giving rise to other physical issues. Always carry some snacks with you in the gym so that if you feel your glucose level is dropping, you can immediately get it back to normal.
Diabetes is a lifestyle disorder that can be prevented or controlled only by changing your lifestyle for the better.
