"exercise is the enemy of diabetes"

Someone said this on the board here a few months ago.  I don't have diabetes but was wondering...How much exercise helps type 2 diabetes?  How intense must the exercise be before it will help?  Will just plain walking aid...or does the exercise need to be more intense?  Would love to hear from those who have had it or still have it.  Brian

I've heard that once your have diabetes you have to monitor your intensity very closely and may even limit the intensity. If you don't have diabetes, I'm almost certain that intense exercise will help prevent it. I have a coworker who's sugar was 100. He did P90X with me for three weeks, the got his checkup. It had dropped to 57. Mine was a paltry 70. 

Now wait .. 100 is a normal non-diabetic fasting blood glucose   70 is the MINIMUM normal ..   57 would be hypoglycemic, (like pass-out or at least dizzy-time) ..        Are you sure you got those numbers right, NotDave?     (maybe those are Japanese metric figures?   )

Batswingman,

Those are the numbers! I think everyone's glucose tolerance is different. Some people will feel bad with low sugar, some won't. I've measured 47 during a late stage dump before and I really just had some weakness in the extremities, nothing more.

Mine used to be between 80 and 90 when I was obese. He may have gone hypo, but he certainly looks like he has a lot of energy. Not eating in the morning does that to some folks. We are asked not to eat until we've had the morning checkup.

He definitely dropped from 100 to 57 and the only variables were better diet and vastly increased exercise.

Best Wishes,

Dave

 

Additionally:

Dad has diabetes and has to go to cardiac rehab. His insulin supplementation causes exercise to drop his sugar levels like a rock. He has to monitor his blood sugar while exercising. In his case, and it may be "acting early as a precaution" or the limitations of his monitor for low blood readings, if his sugar goes below 90, he has to take glucose tabs to bring it back up.

I'm sure some of the "extra-sweet" people here are much better authorities than me with my second hand stuff, though..

 

Additionally:

Dad has diabetes and has to go to cardiac rehab. His insulin supplementation causes exercise to drop his sugar levels like a rock. He has to monitor his blood sugar while exercising. In his case, and it may be "acting early as a precaution" or the limitations of his monitor for low blood readings, if his sugar goes below 90, he has to take glucose tabs to bring it back up.

I'm sure some of the "extra-sweet" people here are much better authorities than me with my second hand stuff, though..

 

Brian I've been diabetic for 17 years, gone from diet control to pills, to insulin shots, to now nothing even though I don't need any medication now post WLS I still check my blood daily. I can tell you depending how severe your diabetes is depends on how much exercise will be significant to reduce your sugar levels. But any exercise will increase your blood circulation which will greatly help many associated conditions. I know you've had heart problems this is one of the conditions that creates diabetes. Some other factors are Female, Overweight, African American, Family History, Pregnancy, Age (usually over 40).   Rocky Top

Almost excludes me. I am over 40 and do have a family history, but I'm not an overweight black woman with children, lol.

I was a diabetic for 20 years but since WLS, I've not had to take any medications at all. I still monitor my blood sugar levels monthly and it's been perfecto. I think healthy eating is a bigger factor than exercise in controlling my blood sugar levels but physical activity certainly plays a part.

Here's the recommeded physical activity levels for diabetics which is pretty much the norm for non-diabetics as well.

Recommendations for Adults

Cardio or aerobic activities. Achieve the aerobic activity recommendation through one of the following options: A minimum of 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per day (such as brisk walking) most days of the week or A minimum of 20 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity (such as jogging or running) 3 days a week Resistance, strength-building, and weight-bearing activities. Two days a week, incorporate strength training into your routine. Strength training activities, such as weight lifting, maintain and increase muscle strength and endurance. A goal to reach towards is completing 6-8 strength training exercises, with 8–12 repetitions per exercise. Boner