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One of the simplest and
most
effective ways to bring down blood glucose levels, cut the
risk of cardiovascular disease, and improve overall health and
well-being is physical fitness and exercise. Yet, in our increasingly
sedentary world, where almost every essential task can be performed
online, from the driver’s seat, or with a phone call, exercising and
being physically fit can be tough case to sell.
In reality, everyone should exercise, yet survey shows that only 30% of
the United States adult population gets the recommended thirty minutes
of daily physical activity, and 25% are not active at all.
Inactivity is thought to be one of the key reasons for the surge of
type 2 diabetes in America, because inactivity and obesity promote
insulin resistance and other factors that trigger other kinds of
diseases.
The good news is that it is never too late to get moving, and exercise
is one of the easiest ways to start controlling the onset of any kinds
of diseases. For people who are already candidates for some serious
diseases like diabetes and heart failure, exercise and physical fitness
can improve the condition of some parts of the body like insulin
sensitivity, lower the risk of heart disease, and promote weight loss.
In 2003, the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism had
published an issue regarding the result of their study and found out
that lack of exercise and physical fitness were the key factors behind
obesity and other serious diseases like diabetes.
Hence, it is extremely important for a person to stay healthy and be
physically fit in order to avoid such illnesses.
Getting Started
The first order of business with any exercise plan, especially if you
are a “dyed-in-the-wool” couch potato, is to consult with your health
care provider.
If you have cardiac factors, your doctor may want to perform a stress
test to establish a safe level of exercise for you.
Certain complications of some diseases will also dictate what type of
exercise program you can take on. Activities like weightlifting,
jogging, or high-impact aerobics can possibly pose a risk for people
with diabetic retinopathy due to the risk for further blood vessel
damage and possible “retinal detachment.”
Health experts also contend that patients with sever peripheral
neuropathy or PN should avoid foot-intensive weight-bearing exercises
such as long-distance walking, jogging, or step aerobics and opt
instead for low-impact activities like swimming, biking, and rowing.
If you have conditions that make exercise and physical fitness a
challenge, your provider may refer you to an exercise physiologist who
can design a fitness program for your specific needs.
If you are already active in sports or work out regularly, it will
still benefit you to discuss your regular routine with your doctor.
The bottom line is that physical fitness and exercise should not have
to be a rigid activity and should not come off strong. Your exercise
routine can be as simple as a brisk nightly neighborhood walk, walking
the dog, or simply taking the stairs instead of the elevator. The
important thing is that you keep on moving. Every little bit really
helps a lot.
In the end, you will realize that the many things that good food can
bring you are equally the same as what physical fitness can do for you...
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