Physical activity is a key factor in reducing the risk of diabetes. Diet has been the primary focus of researchers until recently, when exercise was shown through a series of compelling studies,8 to be far more important to improving the health of diabetics than previously understood.
Regular exercise helps in so many ways it’s virtually indispensable. Three to four weekly sessions of moderate physical activity work to:
• Stabilize blood sugar
• Improve BMI and reduce overall weight
• Lower blood pressure
• Decrease LDL and “bad” cholesterol
• Increase cardiovascular health, and reduce the risks of heart attack and heart and lung disease
By changing the way muscles utilize fuel, exercise increases efficient use of calories by the body. It improves metabolism of sugars, fats, and proteins in the blood, with a greater reliance on carbohydrates to fuel muscular activity. And the benefits of exercise are far-reaching.
A September 2017 study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, followed a group of middle-aged and older adults with Type 2 diabetes on a 9-month supervised exercise program. Researchers concluded that low-cost, community-based exercise programs achieved “significant benefits on glycemic control, lipid profile, blood pressure, anthropometric profile, and the 10-year risk of coronary artery disease.”9
Besides the obvious costs to one’s health, people with diagnosed diabetes have an average of two-and-a-half times the medical expenditures of a non-diabetic.10 Finding free and low-cost solutions that minimize out-of-pocket expenses can be challenging, which makes exercise even more valuable. Both aerobic and anaerobic, or weight-bearing exercises, provide these life-changing benefits, and it’s best to do a mix of both. Find a sport or activity that you enjoy, and make your heart pump and sing at the same time!
Healthy living starts at home, and the risks of diabetes come from factors that YOU control. Find support groups in your community, and make it a family affair. For more information, explore the resources on the GreenMedInfo database, and start living a lifestyle that sets a course for a long, healthy future.• Incorporate healing spices and foods
The GreenMedInfo database contains research on over 70 natural substances which have been demonstrated experimentally or clinically to reduce the risk of diabetes, including the turmeric polyphenol known as curcumin, which as we reported on in the article, "Turmeric Extract 100% Effective At Preventing Type 2 Diabetes, ADA Journal Study Finds," was proven 100% effective clinically at preventing the transition from prediabetes to diabetes type 2.
Learn more at our even more robust Type 2 Diabetes research center, wherein resides research on the therapeutic potential of about 300 natural substances in preventing or treating type 2 diabetes, naturally.
References
1. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/basics/tests-diagnosis/con-20033091
2. https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2017/p0718-diabetes-report.html
3. http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/symptoms
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19878986
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3977406/
6. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/sgr/50th-anniversary/index.htm
7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5402870/
8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2992225/
9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28902144#
10. http://www.diabetes.org/advocacy/news-events/cost-of-diabetes.html
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of GreenMedInfo or its staff.