Endocrine Abstracts

Sedentary life is one of the main risk factors in diabetes type 2. Exercise and physical activities are very effective in prevention and treatment of diabetic patients. During exercise, muscles uptake more glucose from blood, insulin affects better and glucose is entered easily into the muscular cells. Diabetic Patients can use exercises in order to weight loss, blood glucose control, increasing body capabilities in insulin usage, decreasing body need to drug and insulin injections, heart and vessels health, decreasing blood pressure and decreasing blood lipids. Also, exercise can decrease the level of anxiety and depression, and improve the quality of sleep. Studies showed that increased exercise and physical activities are very effective in prevention of diabetes in patients at risk.

Diabetic Patients can use a variety of exercise activities including increased ADL, aerobic activities, resistance training and stretching exercises. It is recommended to select an exercise type that you enjoy it. Aerobic exercise for 30 minutes or more, 3–5 times weekly, with intensity of 40–60% Vo₂ max and also resistance exercises for 2–3 times weekly with intensity of 30–50% RM is recommended. In generally, Aerobic exercise such as walking, cycling and swimming are most appropriate activity for diabetic Patients. Diabetic Patients with heart disease should be consulting with their physician before initiation of exercise program. If the blood sugar is higher than 250 mg/dl or lower than 100 mg/dl, do not exercise. If the signs of depressed blood sugar are happened during exercise (shivering, sweet, tachycardia) the patient should eat sweet things (cubes of sugar, chocolate, candy, juices). Exercise should be performed at a given hours and regularly in days, for example after snack time and before dinner time. The patient and trainer should be aware of possible diabetic’s complications including hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, damage to retina, diabetic foot ulcers.