Public service announcements and doctors have made it clear that Diabetes 2 is bad, but what else do you know about it? For many people, the question centers on what exactly it is and how to prevent it. Type 2 Diabetes is the result of having too much glucose, or sugar, in the system, and it’s the most common form of diabetes out there. You probably have heard enough about it to know that it involves sticking your finger daily to monitor blood sugar levels, but what about exercising?
In the past, most programs for diabetes prevention included daily intense exercises to reduce the likelihood of getting the disease. Some people find that intense exercise is more than their bodies can handle. Fortunately, a University of Leicester study has found that more regular and less intense movement can be even more valuable in diabetes prevention. Although November was Diabetes Awareness Month, it’s never too late to start helping your body out!
Exercise
According to the University of Leicester, people who are considered to be in a high risk category of developing diabetes should sit less and move around more. Although that may sound obvious, the study indicated that regular intense exercise is less beneficial than getting up and moving around more during the work day. By getting up and walking around 90 minutes a day, a person could see health benefits that could be very important in the prevention of diabetes.
What is the Best Kind of Activity to Treat and Prevent Type 2 Diabetes?
Enough is known about Type 2 Diabetes, which the most common type of diabetes that there are several factors that can put a person at a greater risk for developing Type 2 Diabetes. Often health can be improved by losing weight, and that means intense workouts, so how does more exercise that is less intense help?
People involved in project STAND (Sedentary Time and Diabetes study) had an average age of 33 years, and they found that taking breaks away from the desk at work, and other breaks in sedentary time showed fewer risk factors for developing diabetes. Another study, Walking Away from Diabetes found the same results. The findings were true across all age groups and both male and females and they discovered that getting up and moving more often had better success than programs that focused on 150 minutes of more intense activities each week.
How to Take Care of Diabetes 2
Another important thing that involves diet and exercise is reaching and staying at a healthy weight. By staying at the appropriate weight and not smoking, a person can reduce the chances of complications from Diabetes 2, as long as the patient continues to follow medical advice. Taking these steps and increasing their metabolic health by not staying at their desks, or other sedentary activities can make a big change in the likelihood of developing diabetes.
Diabetes 2 is a terrible disease that can negatively affect, as well as shorten the life and quality of life the patient has. There are things that can be done to prevent developing Diabetes 2, as well as ways to make it easier to live with Diabetes 2.
If you have more questions regarding diabetes or how diet and exercise can impact living with this disease, please contact us! We’d love to help you get back on the right track when it comes to caring for your body.