Diabetics Move to Lose Weight & Aid Circulation
Moving for Exercise & Cardio Health in the Battle against Diabetes
Sep 11, 2009
Diabetes interferes with the body's ability to produce and use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that allows blood glucose (blood sugar) to enter the cells of the body and be used for energy. Most adults in the U.S. can name the key strategies for battling diabetes: Eat a healthy diet, don't smoke, and exercise regularly. The media provides a constant deluge of information about the dangers and risks associated with diabetes, especially high blood pressure, heart failure, kidney disease, blindness, and loss of limbs. In spite of the warnings, however, very few people bother to take charge of their health.
The Consequences of Diabetes
The American Diabetes Association website explains the relationship between diabetes and heart disease in the article, "Diabetes and Cardiovascular (Heart) Disease" (no author or date specified): "The most life-threatening consequences of diabetes are heart disease and stroke ..." And, "Unfortunately, the risk of cardiovascular disease among people with diabetes is dramatic: a diagnosis of diabetes as an adult presents the same risk as already having one heart attack. More than 65 percent of deaths in diabetes patients are attributed to heart and vascular disease."
Obesity has always been a major element in the fight against type II diabetes. Volumes of documented evidence prove that losing weight will result in better health. Yet, too many people are ignoring the facts, opting instead for unhealthy "comfort" food, a sedate lifestyle, and years of medical treatments that are sure to follow as a result of overeating. Much of the damage associated with diabetes, especially circulation problems, are irreversible.
The website Consumer Reports Health supplies information in the article, "What Heart and Circulation Problems Can You Get with Diabetes?" (No author provided, 2009). The article states: "Some people with diabetes have poor circulation in their arms and legs. ... If you have poor circulation, your legs may not get enough blood flow when you walk. This can be painful. Also, any cuts or broken skin on your feet or legs may take longer to heal up." Sores can turn into ulcers that take weeks or even months to heal. Infections in the lower extremities that don't heal can lead to amputation.
What Can a Person Do to Reduce the Chance of Becoming Diabetic?
Health officials continually instruct people on how to prevent diabetes by eating a balanced diet that includes plenty of whole grains and other "heart healthy" foods. People young and old are advised to lose extra pounds by working at some kind of exercise program, but getting started is often too much of an obstacle for some to consider. Procrastinators say they don't have the time to exercise; they say they don't want the hassle of going to the gym, and they can't afford to invest in expensive equipment.
There are other means of exercise. Provided below are a few suggestions to get moving. Many activities can be incorporated into daily living chores. A few exercise ideas can be carried out during recreation time with the kids, or can be part of a special interest project. There are a lot of ways to get moving to help reduce the chances of getting diabetes:
- Rake leaves and do yard work
- Nintendo Wii exercise and sports programs
- Mall walking
- Horseback riding
- Bicycling
- Nature walk
- Dancing at home, in public, on the beach, or any suitable place
- Help build a Habitat for Humanity home
- Volunteer to help set up booths and such for a school festival or church bazaar
- Pick up fallen nuts such as pecans
- Weed a garden
- Plant flowers in the spring or bulbs in the fall
- Plant a fall garden or build a rock garden
- Do seasonal home chores indoors and outside
- Do home repairs that keep getting put off
- Use stairs instead of an elevator or ramp in public or at work
Not only does a poor diet affect adults directly, but bad eating habits and self-neglect also influence children and teens. Young people learn by example, and the bad choices kids see are reflected in the number of children diagnosed as being overweight. The biggest mistake one can make regardless of age – besides an unhealthy lifestyle – is in believing diabetes can't happen to him.
The dangers of diabetes should be enough to get anyone up and moving about. Costly equipment is not essential for exercise; all one needs is the right attitude and the desire to improve his lifestyle. There is no cure for diabetes, but people can try to prevent the disease or at least slow down the onset of diabetes by following a heart-healthy diet and getting some form of beneficial exercise.
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