The hardest aspect of diabetes is keeping your blood sugar under control. Spikes are often triggered by refined sugar or when you eat too much, not soon enough, or from stress. Those decadent holiday meals and snacks also alter blood sugar levels, making weight management impossible. Luckily, one of the best activities for those with diabetes is daily walks, especially after meals or in the evening.
In fact, exercise is essential for diabetes care. As well as controlling blood sugar, it reduces the risk of nerve damage, heart disease, and other diabetes-related conditions. If you’re lacking in physical activity, start slowly and add a few minutes to your walk each day. Let’s explore exactly how walking benefits those with diabetes.
See How Daily Walks Affect Diabetes and Blood Sugar
Most breakfast foods trigger spikes in your blood sugar. To avoid high glucose levels after breakfast, take a walk the evening before. Doing so has been shown to normalize your levels after morning meals. If you aren’t convinced, give it a try, and see the results for yourself.
As well as controlling blood sugar, daily walking helps with weight management, which is crucial for diabetes. It also boosts your mood, strengthens your body, and improves sleep. Now see how exactly it works.
Improves blood circulation
One of the major risks of diabetes is poor circulation. It causes reduced sensations in the hands and feet, slower wound healing, and pain. Over time, nerve damage, infections, or ulcers may occur. Poor circulation affects several functions and areas, including vision, arteries, and muscles, so should be closely monitored.
Changing a few habits improves blood circulation, including adding physical activity to your routine. You don’t need a gym membership or special equipment, either. Daily walks for those with diabetes get the blood pumping throughout your body. A 30-minute walk each evening or shorter walks after meals all offer the same benefits.
Glucose control after meals
Controlling glucose levels in the blood is another vital aspect of diabetes care. Low blood sugar causes shaking, dizziness, confusion, hunger, and an elevated heart rate. When it’s too high, dehydration, blurred vision, exhaustion, and recurring infections occur. To avoid these issues, you’ll need to constantly monitor your blood sugar levels and adjust meals and insulin use accordingly.
For those with diabetes, daily walks improve glucose levels. When you exercise, the body uses blood sugar to fuel the muscles and tissue. The more active you are, the more fuel the body needs, reducing excess glucose in the body.
Improves insulin sensitivity
Insulin sensitivity or resistance occurs when the body doesn’t react to insulin as it’s supposed to. Insulin is produced by the pancreas and is essential for converting glucose into fuel. When the body doesn’t produce or use insulin properly, blood sugar levels rise and cause health issues.
Regular exercise, including daily walks, improves insulin sensitivity in those with diabetes. Whether your body produces insulin, or it’s injected, the body uses it more effectively. Doing so improves blood sugar levels for several hours and may require dose adjustments.
Resources:
https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/managing/active.html
https://www.uclahealth.org/news/how-to-improve-blood-circulation-if-you-have-type-2-diabetes#:~:text=Exercise%20to%20benefit%20problem%20areas&text=If%20you%20are%20having%20circulation,leg%20lifts%20and%20calf%20raises
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2992225/
https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/managing-your-diabetes/exercise/blood-sugar-levels
This content comprises informative and educational resources only and can not be considered as a substitute for professional health or medical guidance. Reliance on any information provided in this article is solely at your own risk. If you have any inquiries or apprehensions about your medical condition or health goals, talk with a licensed physician or healthcare provider.
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