If you suffer from diabetes, a six-week Healthy Living Series is offered periodically at South Georgian Bay Community Health Centre in Wasaga Beach. It encourages you to use exercise and nutrition to manage this and other chronic illnesses, along with sharing lots of other helpful information and support. Exercising with diabetes requires special care to stay safe. Here are some things to keep in mind as you begin an exercise program.
The first is to check with a medical professional before you begin. You need to know that your heart, kidneys, eyes, and feet are up to the task, as well as your circulatory and nervous systems. These are all parts of your body that can be damaged by the disease, so you don’t want to stress them more than they can bear.
Once you get the go ahead, begin slowly. At Abbott Foot & Ankle Clinic, we can recommend safe ways to begin and activities that will be the best for you. Certain exercises will help manage complications of diabetes. For example, if peripheral neuropathy causes loss of feeling in your feet, balance may be an issue. Thus, exercises that improve your balance help, while weight bearing exercise like walking and jogging may put you at risk for a fall. Stationary biking and swimming, on the other hand, are great.
It is best not to exercise outside in extreme temperatures. Warm up for five minutes before and cool down for five minutes after your session, and be sure to stay hydrated. Aim for exercise in the “talk test” range – where you can still talk as you move. If you are insulin-dependent, make sure you always have a carbohydrate snack with you in case you feel a low (hypoglycemia) coming on.
Exercising with diabetes means you should check your feet before and afterwards for any red spots or injuries. If you see something, call Abbott Foot & Ankle Clinic in Collingwood, ON, at (705) 444-9929 for an appointment. We want to help you safely manage your diabetes with diet and exercise, so contact us today.
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