DIABETES AND EXERCISE
1. Patients with type I diabetes mellitus (insulin dependent)
Exercise can increase insulin sensitivity in these cases, although this does not automatically imply optimal control of diabetes. To achieve this in the long term, patients should engage in daily physical activity and taking into account the following factors: the time of day it is performed, its duration and intensity, blood glucose levels before exercise, and the type and dose of insulin used.
There are a number of basic rules to keep in mind before starting an exercise session:
- Inject insulin into muscle groups that are not mobilized during exercise.
- Plan exercise to be done regularly and at the same time each day, preferably in the early hours of the morning.
- Adapt it to the timing of meals and the action of insulin.
- Administer an extra amount of carbohydrates before or during exercise or reduce the dose of insulin.
- Avoid exercise in extreme hot or cold conditions and during periods of metabolic loss.
2. Patients with “type II DM (non-insulin dependent)”
The regular exercise program is essential for glycemic control. In addition, it has been proven that sport is effective in preventing this type of diabetes, especially in those with a high risk of suffering from it: overweight individuals with high vital sign and a case history of diabetes. It is also important to follow a correct diet.
The ideal exercise
A session should consist of about 10 to 20 minutes of stretching and muscle strength, 5 minutes of aerobic warm-up (light running), 15 to 60 minutes of aerobic exercise at an appropriate intensity, and 5 to 10 minutes of low intensity exercise at a time. finish sports practice. The most recommended sports are walking, running and cycling, but the patient's medical history must always be taken into account. Diabetics should keep a training log and always check with their doctor before continuing to exercise.Benefits of sports practice
- Increases glucose utilization by muscle.
- Improves insulin sensitivity.
- Reduce daily insulin needs or lower doses of oral antidiabetics.
- Control weight and avoid obesity.
- Maintains blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
- Avoid anxiety, depression, and stress.
- Reduces the incidence of cardiovascular diseases.
What precautions to take
- Check blood glucose before playing sports:
- If it is less than 100 mg / dl, take a supplement (fruit, cookies, energy drinks) before exercising
- If you are between 100 and 150 mg / dl - 150 mg / dl, you can exercise safely.
- If it is greater than 250 mg / dl, save the exercise for another time.
- Decrease your insulin dose before activity.
- Do not inject insulin into a muscle region that will be exposed to great stress.
- Avoid physical exercise at the time of peak insulin action.
- Control blood glucose during and after exercise.
- Take a carbohydrate supplement during prolonged exercise.
- Consume fluids -especially water- from two hours before starting to exercise and during sports practice.
- Control your degree of dehydration and the room temperature.
- As long as a diabetic follows a regular exercise program (which favors glucose tolerance), drug treatments should be readjusted and certain dietary measures should be planned to prevent an episode of hypoglycemia from arising during their practice
- Avoid exercising if capillary blood glucose is> 250 mg / dl and there is evidence of ketosis in the blood and urine, or if blood glucose is higher than 300 mg / dl even without signs of ketosis. It is preferable to wait until the decompensation situation has disappeared to start playing sports.
- If any symptoms of hypoglycemia appear before, during and after sports, an additional amount of fast-absorbing carbohydrates (such as juices, for example) should be taken.
- It is advisable to know the behavior of blood glucose in relation to the different types of physical exercise.
- Some diabetic patients may suffer complications such as arrhythmia during exercise.
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