Monday, December 13, 2010

The Benefits of Physical Activity

An active lifestyle helps your body work more efficiently, benefiting both your general health and your diabetes. It can also help you lose weight. Building more activity into your daily life is an important part of managing your diabetes.

My doctor keeps telling me that I should be more active – why?

Regular activity helps insulin you have produced or injected work more efficiently. Being more active won’t make your diabetes go away, but it can go a long way to helping you manage it. Another advantage is that it helps you stay at a healthy weight or lose weight if you need to.

How much physical activity do I need to do before I feel the benefits?

Any activity that raises your heart rate or makes you slightly out of breath will bring benefits. This doesn’t necessarily mean joining a gym or doing strenuous activity. Activities such as dancing or walking briskly burn calories and help your circulation. The amount of activity to aim for is at least 30 minutes of moderate activity five times a week. This will help you lose weight, regulate your blood glucose level, and reduce your risk of the long-term complications of diabetes.

How quickly can physical activity help me lose weight?

If you combine regular physical activity with eating fewer calories, you may be able to lose 1-2lb (about 0.5kg) a week. Doing more physical activity can stimulate your appetite, so you may be tempted to eat high-calorie food if you feel hungry after activity. Snacking on low-calorie foods such as chopped raw vegetables or fruit will help you avoid too many calories. Your body will adjust to extra activity and expect less food as you lose weight.

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