How much do you REALLY know about Diabetes?

by Bri McDonald – Exercise Physiologist

 

Diabetes Mellitus.

For 280 Australians every day this is a diagnosis that changes their life forever.

1.7 million Australians have diagnosed Diabetes and a total of 2.4 million people are affected including family, carers and support roles.

You probably understand the basics about Diabetes, but do you really know all the details?

 

Here’s a quick run downDiabetes exercise Healesville

There’s two types of Diabetes: Type I and Type II

 

Type 1 Diabetes

  • You’ll typically develop this when you’re young and there’s not much you can do about it
  • Your pancreas stops producing insulin (the blood sugar regulating hormone)
  • And therefore you’ll need to inject insulin to stay alive

 

Type 2 Diabetes

  • This is strongly related to bad genetics and unhealthy lifestyle choices
  • Your body stops responding to the insulin you produce
  • And depending on how bad it gets you may need to start taking medication

 

A diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes could change your life forever.

 

The good new is Type 2 Diabetes is preventable and INSULIN IS THE KEY

You see, when insulin is not working properly your blood sugar levels rise and can get to dangerous levels. So dangerous that it becomes toxic to your brain, eyes, nerves and almost all organs in the body.

However you can stop this happening by improving how your insulin works.

 

You’ve got two options: MEDICATION or EXERCISE

Imagine this: you’ve just been diagnosed with diabetes and your doctor gives you these two options. Medication or Exercise. Which would you pick? Would you be willing to step up and take control of your life?

 

The MAGIC (or not so magic) CURE. Exercise!

Exercise can help prevent and manage diabetes. Exercise is that effective that we could call it magic, but it needs to be started early and done in the right way.

 

The SCIENCE behind exercise:

When we exercise the body draws sugar into the muscle without the need for insulin. Using GLUT-4 (a mechanism that draws the sugar out of the blood to use as energy) it lowers your blood sugar level. What’s even better, is that for up to 16 hours after exercise it will improve your insulin sensitivity, keeping your blood sugar levels low.

Exercise ALSO helps with weight loss.

And exercise ALSO helps improve your metabolism.

It really is that good when it comes to Diabetes.

diabetes exercise group healesville

 

But here’s the KEY: you need to make sure you do the RIGHT exercise.

At Better Exercise Physiology, we have put together an exercise class based on scientific evidence. The class is designed to help diabetics in controlling their blood sugars.

 

Our Diabetes Exercise Group combines light resistance exercise, aerobic exercise and balance training. As university trained Exercise Physiologists, we cater for people with injuries and other health concerns.

 

If you have diabetes, this is THE EXERCISE CLASS YOU NEED. And if you’re eligible you can do the class with no cost to you.

For full details head to www.betterexercise.com.au/t2dm/