Exercise Benefits & More
Exercise increases insulin sensitivity. Therefore it helps to improve the action of a given amount of insulin, so that less insulin may be needed to maintain the blood sugar level. Insulin levels that may have been appropriate for you at rest become too much for you during exercise. In the general population, activity causes the muscles to draw more glucose from the blood and insulin requirements have been known to decrease by 50%.
In people who do not have diabetes, the pancreas can quickly respond by tapering off insulin secretion. The liver produces more glucose for the body to use and the level of glucose in the blood remains steady. In other words, the body makes up for that sensitivity by secreting less insulin during and after exercise in someone who does not have diabetes.
In a child, teen or adult with Type 1 diabetes, who uses injected insulin, the insulin action is unable to "shut off". The muscles continue to use up the available glucose in the blood. The insulin causes the muscles to draw more glucose, and prevents the liver from replenishing the supply of glucose in the blood. This may, therefore, put the person at risk for a low blood sugar. Also, consideration needs to given to the site used for injection, as it can affect insulin absorption.( i.e. injecting into the leg and then running is not recommended.) The best injection site to use when exercising is the abdomen.
Exercise induced hypoglycaemia can happen much later after the exercise and even up to 24 hours after exercise because of depleted glycogen stores and long lasting effects of exercise on insulin sensitivity.
On the other hand, exercise does not always lower blood sugar levels. If blood glucose levels are very high, over 250 mg/dl, it is unlikely that exercise will bring the glucose levels down. The liver continues to put out nearly as much glucose as it normally would, but because of insulin deficiency, the muscle tissue isn't able to use it quickly. The net effect is a buildup of glucose in the bloodstream. In a person with a high blood sugar and not enough insulin, the glucose just keeps rising. Do not exercise if you are sick and have ketones in your urine. Exercise only when under control.
Also, depending on the activity and the intensity, blood glucose levels may not be reduced. Competitive activities such as soccer or hockey may increase the glucose levels, because heavy demand during the game increases stress hormones that work against the insulin. Also, at times, the glucose level doesn't fall during activity, especially if the activity occurs immediately after a meal. Then, the glucose level may then drop for up to 6 to 12 hours after the activity is over, which is known as the lag effect. This means people, particularly children, are at risk for hypoglycaemia later on in the night. Children doing activities after supper should have larger portions at their evening snack. Parents will set their alarm and do a 2-4 am glucose check to rule out night-time low glucose levels, also called nocturnal hypoglycaemia.
Exercise benefits individuals with Type 1 as much as it does those without diabetes. Exercise clearly decreases blood glucose levels and thereby reduces insulin requirements, however, it does not necessarily improve long term blood glucose control in people with Type 1 diabetes. In fact, people with Type 1 diabetes who exercise, must learn to balance the impact of exericse within a framework of several strategies for diabetes control.
WHAT TYPE OF EXERCISE SHOULD I DO?
Before starting an exercise program, adults need to talk to their doctor. Meeting with a trained professional to develop the right exercise program would be a step in the right direction. Exercise programs need to be individualized, based on a person's preferences, fitness level and daily schedule. A person's age, body weight, and any medical problems need to be considered when evaluating the type of exercise.
In 1994, several American Federal Health Agencies collaborated on the first "Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity" which emphasized the importance of moderate exercise. Moderate physical exercise may have some distinct advantages over intense exercise.
Despite the fact that a person with Type 1 diabetes may experience the lows to the highs, exercise experts conclude that the many benefits of exercise are enough to recommend exercise to people with Type 1 diabetes. People with Type 1 diabetes can make exercise really work for them in terms of blood sugar control and can use exercise to improve blood sugars. The individual needs to have a clear understanding of how their body responds when they exercise, to avoid the risk of hypoglycaemia. This means a lot of monitoring, a lot of repetition, a lot of experimenting with responses and action. A basic understanding of the dynamics of blood sugar regulation, along with a careful course of trial and error can improve the odds for success, and actually improve glycemic control. However, it is much more challenging for someone with Type 1 than someone with Type 2 diabetes.
TYPE 2
Most cases of Type 2 diabetes begin with insulin resistance - a condition in which the body's tissues don't use insulin effectively to turn glucose into energy. In other words, it takes an increasing amount of insulin to keep the blood sugar levels in check. Initially the pancreas may secrete increasing amounts of insulin to compensate, but eventually, it fails to keep up and high blood glucose levels result.
Exercise can greatly enhance blood glucose control in people with Type 2 diabetes, especially in the early course of the disease. Exercise causes the body's tissues to use more blood glucose and increases insulin sensitivity.
Research has conclusively shown that regular exercise can also significantly reduce a person's risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Studies have shown that people who exercised regularly had roughly one-third less chance of developing Type 2 diabetes than those who were sedentary. Other studies have shown that people with impaired glucose tolerance, who are at greater risk for developing Type 2 diabetes, may reduce their risk of developing diabetes by about 50%, even with modest amounts of exercise.
The improvement that you see from these studies approaches the improvement that you see with many new drugs which can be expensive and may have significant side effects. There is definite evidence that lifestyle changes could prevent many cases of Type 2 diabetes.
WHAT ARE SOME BENEFITS OF EXERCISE?
Information from the web site
www.sugarbytes.com.