The importance of being active
Regular physical activity is good for almost everyone, but it is especially good for people with diabetes.
Regular exercise can:
- Lower blood glucose levels
- During exercise, and often for hours afterwards, blood glucose levels go down.
- Reduce the need for insulin
- Exercise can also help your body use insulin better. You can become more sensitive to the effects of insulin, so you may not need as much insulin on the days you are active.
- Protect against heart disease and stroke
- Regular physical activity may help you reduce “bad” (LDL) blood cholesterol and increase “good” (HDL) blood cholesterol. Regular exercise can also help lower blood pressure.
- Aid in weight management
- Exercise helps your body burn calories, making it easier to manage your weight. Regular exercise can help you burn body fat and build muscle. This can make your body stronger and increase your energy level.
If that isn’t enough, exercise can also:
- Strengthen bones and tone muscles
- Exercise can also lower your risk of thinning bones (osteoporosis) by building bone mass, which makes bones stronger. Your appearance can improve as you build, tighten, and tone your muscles. Your body can become more flexible, and you may be less likely to injure yourself while exercising or doing other physical activity.
- Increase energy and relieve stress
- Exercise can help you feel better about your body and increase your sense of well-being.
- Improve how you look and feel
- With all of these benefits, doesn’t being active make sense for you?
