Blood Sugar Control: Diabetes & Science-Backed Exercise Plan

Harness the power of science for diabetes management. Discover strategic workouts to effectively regulate blood sugar, tailored for those living with diabetes

5/20/20243 min read

As we all know, exercise is one of the "five carriages" of diabetes treatment, and its benefits to diabetic patients are self-evident. However, for patients with diabetes, exercise therapy must be scientific and reasonable, otherwise it will not achieve the purpose of treatment and may even harm their own health.

Exercise therapy is a very important part of the comprehensive treatment of diabetes. For diabetic patients, the form of exercise needs to vary from person to person. The method and intensity should be simple, long-term, and gradual, and aerobic exercise should be given priority (in Physical exercise with sufficient oxygen supply, such as jogging, brisk walking, swimming, Tai Chi, ball games, etc.).

Regarding how to control exercise intensity, there is a trick I can teach you. The method is to count the pulse immediately at the end of exercise. The pulse number of moderate exercise = 170 - age. If you are a patient over 60 years old, the pulse number of moderate exercise is 90 to 100 beats per minute.

The best time to exercise is half an hour after a meal, because blood sugar begins to rise at this time, hypoglycemia is less likely to occur during exercise, and the blood sugar-lowering effect is good. It is not advisable to exercise immediately after a heavy meal or when you are hungry. It is recommended that everyone exercise for 30 to 60 minutes each time, and gradually increase the amount of exercise starting from 20 minutes a day. It is most appropriate to exercise 3 to 4 times a week. Exercise should not be interrupted. It is best to insist on it every day in a planned way, otherwise the effect will be weakened.

Patients taking insulin and oral hypoglycemic drugs should self-monitor their blood sugar during exercise, and adjust the drug dose in a timely manner as the amount and intensity of exercise change.

If hypoglycemia occurs during exercise, it will manifest as hunger, palpitation, cold sweats, dizziness, limb weakness, tremors, etc. At this time, the patient should stop exercising and immediately consume the candies, biscuits, etc. that he carries with him. Generally, the symptoms will be relieved in about 10 minutes. If they are not relieved, you can take candy and go to the hospital immediately.

Finally, special attention should be paid to the fact that some patients are not suitable for exercise, such as patients with complications of large and small blood vessel disease, such as patients with fundus, heart, kidney, foot ulcers and other complications; patients with various acute infections; Those with chronic wasting diseases; those with frequent cerebral insufficiency, unsatisfactory blood pressure control, and patients with unstable blood sugar and frequent hypoglycemia.

In short, you must follow the doctor's advice on everything, including exercise. I hope today’s content is helpful to you, thank you!

Exercise for diabetic patients should vary from person to person and must be effective, scientific, and safe. Diabetes is mainly clinically manifested by glucose metabolism disorders, so patients' regular exercise is the key to treating diabetes.

Regular exercise in daily life can improve insulin sensitivity, reduce mortality, lose weight, and effectively improve blood lipids and blood pressure, but exercise must also be scientific. Regarding the scientific movement for people with diabetes, we emphasize 4 points here:

1. First, make an assessment and plan before exercising. Follow the doctor's advice. At the same time, exercise in moderation and avoid strenuous exercise to prevent symptoms of hypoglycemia. Special attention should be paid to if the patient has serious complications. When exercising, symptoms of hypoglycemia are likely to occur, so be cautious.

2. In terms of exercise intensity, it should be from less to more, periodic, and maintain aerobic breathing. During exercise, the body will feel slightly sweaty or slightly tired. This is just right. For the patient himself, the intensity of the exercise program The choice should be adjusted based on age, physical condition, and physical tolerance.

3. Monitor blood sugar before and after exercise to avoid hypoglycemia. Current sports suitable for patients include cycling, badminton, table tennis, Tai Chi, etc.

4. Finally, be sure to be fully prepared before exercising. Prepare loose and comfortable sportswear, suitable sports shoes, and cotton socks. Carry some biscuits, sugar, chocolate, etc. with you to prevent hypoglycemia during exercise. To ensure safety, be sure to go together and tell your companions that you have the disease. If you have diabetes, get immediate help if problems arise. As long as diabetic patients master the methods and methods of exercise, they can express themselves like normal people.