Exercise with Diabetes
By Brooke Fletcher
There are currently around 1.2 million Australians living with diabetes and it is one of our fastest growing chronic conditions.
Exercise can’t reverse the condition but it can help in slowing its progression and preventing further complications. There are many different types of diabetes including Type 1, Type 2, Gestational and pre-diabetes.
Exercise and diet is able to benefit each type; If you have recently been diagnosed with any type of diabetes, I’m here to tell you why you should get moving and how to do it!
- Type 1 is non-preventable and is where the body is unable to produce enough insulin. Exercise benefits those with type 1 diabetes as it helps to supplement the artificial insulin they use and to help utilise the glucose in the working muscles. Exercise also aims to reduce complications that come about with long-term uncontrolled glucose levels.
- Type 2 diabetes can be preventable and is the main form of diabetes affecting 85-95% of those living with diabetes. Exercise is said to have a bigger effect on type 2 than type 1. It can help to prevent medication increases or progressions and again helps to prevent further complications caused by prolonged high blood sugar levels.
- Prediabetes is a crucial time to get moving and get your diet in check as this will prevent you from developing type 2 diabetes.
- Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy with exercise not only helping to manage blood sugar levels and prevent the risk of developing diabetes post-partum but there are many health benefits to exercising through pregnancy. If you aren’t too sure what these are check out our Pregnancy Blog
When it comes to exercise, it is important to be including both strength and cardiovascular exercise into your regime. The reason for it being so critical to include both is that they both work via different mechanisms in the body to help with glucose uptake into the muscle. If you are only including one form in your program you miss out on reaping the full benefits that exercise can offer.
Diet also plays an important role of managing your blood glucose levels and works hand in hand with exercise. It is important to manage both, not just one or the other. Here at Allied Fitness Australia we have both Exercise Physiologists and dieticians to help create the best exercise program for each individual tailored with personalised diet advice.
There are a few factors that need to be accounted for when commencing any exercise program. This includes managing your hypoglycaemia risk and being aware of and managing any other risk factors. This is why it is important to consult with an Exercise Professional before commencing as they can provide you with the program that is safest and most beneficial for you.
If exercise and a balanced diet isn’t part of your diabetes management, you put yourself at risk of further complications that poorly controlled diabetes can lead to. These include but aren’t limited to problems with your heart, eyes, liver, nerves and how the body functions in general. Not only will exercise benefit your diabetes but it also helps with other health concerns generally related with diabetes including cholesterol, blood pressure and weight. It also creates a sense of well-being as exercise releases endorphins and has been proven to have a large effect on depression.
At Allied Fitness Australia we currently do a lot of work with the NDIS and see a lot of clients with Diabetes. We work closely with support coordinators, family members and the clients to help reach their goals including increasing ability with activities of daily living as well as addressing other co-morbidities. For those who are unable to reach our facilities we also offer home visits.
If you do have funding with the NDIS you can access Exercise Physiology services under both the improved health and wellbeing and improved daily living categories and our dieticians can be accessed under improved health and wellbeing. If you are self-managed, Agency managed or Plan managed we work with the nominated providers in arranging service agreements through to the delivery of services.
If you would like more information on how we can help you or if you are unsure on your funding or eligibility please get in touch and organise a complimentary consultation with one of our Exercise Physiologists or dieticians today.
Brooke Fletcher
Accredited Exercise Physiologist