Type 2 Diabetes – Exercise As Part of Diabetes Management
Exercise is one of the most important parts of a diabetic’s lifestyle. There are three effective pillars in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes…
diet,
exercise, and
medication.
And exercise is one of the main drivers.
People with Type 2 diabetes are no different to non-diabetics when it comes to excuses why they can’t find time to exercise. While fitting exercise into a diabetic lifestyle might be difficult, it isn’t impossible. You just have to be creative.
The single best move you can make is to involve a friend. Having accountability means it won’t be as easy to talk yourself out of exercising on a particular day. Make sure it is someone who is actually going to push you and be there for support. The best scenario is to have someone who is in better physical condition than you and will be able to outperform you.
Make sure you are held accountable for your actions. If you sneak out of a workout, there has to be consequences. The consequences also have to be dire enough to be painful and something your workout partner is going to hold you to… no matter what.
Next, you need to work in your own exercise. If you like to watch TV, then commit to getting up and doing jumping jacks, lunges, knee bends, etc. during the commercial breaks. You could even have an exercise bike where you can see the TV… watch TV from the bicycle seat.
Another way to build motivation is to include several others. Having a workout partner is great, but having three or four is even better. Start your own workout club or join an existing one. There are always those friends who would be willing to put forth the effort if others would, too. All they need is motivation… just like you.
Here are a few simple ways to fit movement into your day:
stand while you talk on the phone.
get a laptop tray for your treadmill. Then you can walk while you do your routine computer work.
park at the far end of the store parking lot.
walk your dog. Take advantage of the fact dogs love to walk (mine loves to run). If you don’t have a dog, offer to walk a friend’s dog. Both your friend and their dog will be appreciative.
clean. Tackle that time-intensive chore you have been putting off.
rake leaves. This burns a lot of calories and, unlike aerobics, you can instantly see the positive results… a clean yard.
folding clothes? Fold them while standing up. This not only allows you to burn more calories than sitting, but you’ll be required to bend over a lot, too.
Exercise is as important as the type of food you eat and in some cases, as important as drugs in managing Type 2 diabetes.