5 Of My Favorite Exercises For Managing Diabetes

If you are suffering from diabetes or simply concerned about developing it down the road, one of the top things that you need to be focusing on is changing your lifestyle. You really can’t just sit back and forget about all the important factors such as nutrition and exercise.

Now, these are both critical elements in managing your condition. Most people are able to take control over their nutrition without too much of a problem. They start cutting sugar out of their diet and get good at managing their calorie intake.

But exercise? That’s where many will struggle. Which exercises are best? And how often should I be exercising? Is it something I must be doing every day?

The main thing to know and remember with exercise is that you should be partaking in some form of physical activity on a day-to-day basis. No questions asked, this will be important for success.

That said, you don’t need to be exercising at the top level of intensity to see results. A balanced mix of exercise is good. Have some days that are more intense and others that are at a lower intensity.

Still struggling to know what you should be doing?

Let me share with you my top five favorite exercises for those with diabetes. If you can get one or more of these forms of activity into your week, you’ll be doing great.

1. Walking

First up on the list is walking. Why do I like walking so much? Simple: it’s easy to do, you don’t need any special equipment, and there is no learning curve. All of us have been walking around for years now.

As long as you don’t have any pre-existing injuries that would prevent you from walking, it’s something that you can start on right away.

Aim to walk for 20-30 minutes at a time–or longer. One other nice thing about walking is that it’s not so intense, so there is not a huge risk that you’ll suffer from blood glucose fluctuations because of it.

2. Bodyweight Training

Next, we have bodyweight training. You know the drill–push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups, walking lunges and the like. These are all great because, once again, there is no need for added equipment. You can do them anywhere. And they make for a great method to get your heart rate up while gaining some muscle strength as well.

Overall, it’s a win-win for anyone who is hoping to get into better all-around physical condition and who doesn’t have access to the gym. I like it for the fact that it’s very easy to perform in the comfort of your own home.

3. Strength Training

Speaking of muscular strength brings us to the next form of exercise I highly recommend: strength training. If you can get to the gym or even pick up some dumbbells to use in your own home, strength training will be an excellent form of exercise to help you build functional strength.

I also like the fact that it can increase your glucose sensitivity, therefore, improve the way your body handles carbohydrates. And if you want to optimize your body composition, you simply can’t go wrong with strength training. No other form of exercise is going to improve the way your body looks, aesthetically speaking.

Just two or three 20-30-minute sessions per week is all it takes to see great results.

4. Yoga

Moving along, yoga is the next exercise you’ll want to add to the picture. It’s one of my favorites for those who suffer from diabetes as I find it offers excellent stress relief, and stress can wreak havoc on blood sugar levels.

An hour or so of yoga a few times a week can help relax the mind and body and get you in a better place, ready to make smart food decisions and live your life in the healthiest manner possible.

If you aren’t a fan of yoga, try basic stretching instead.

5. Your Favorite Recreational Exercise

Finally, let’s give you some choice here. Just start doing your favorite recreational exercise. Whether this is riding your bike, going for a swim, going out dancing with your significant other, or playing a game of basketball, any exercise that you enjoy doing is a good one as it means you are very likely to stick with it.

That, at the end of the day, is going to bring better overall results.

Choosing the exercises that can help you manage your diabetes (and stay healthier overall!) doesn’t have to be a challenge. Just remember the basics and try to schedule them into your plan. What’s most important is that you get some form of exercise in–period.