When combined with a nutritious diet and medication (if prescribed), regular exercise provides significant benefits for individuals with diabetes. Patients should consult their physician before starting or altering an exercise program. People are often advised to exercise for about 30 minutes at least five days a week. However, individual needs vary. For example, a patient who is prone to hypoglycemia, hypoglycemia unawareness, cardiac irregularities or foot problems may be prescribed a different program.

Exercise can help people with diabetes:

• Lower glucose (blood sugar). Diabetes is characterized by the inability to produce or efficiently use insulin, a hormone that regulates glucose. Too much or too little glucose in the bloodstream can result in a variety of medical complications. Muscles use glucose for energy during exercise. The increased blood flow during exercise expands blood vessels and allows more glucose and oxygen to enter the muscles. The body taps into its blood glucose reserves during and after activity to fulfill this energy requirement, reducing blood glucose levels for several hours after exercise. The degree of reduction depends on the duration and intensity of the exercise session.
  
  
• Reduce insulin resistance (a condition in which the cells have a diminished response to insulin). Insulin resistance occurs when the body produces a sufficient amount of insulin but is unable to detect its presence or use it efficiently. Dysfunction in using insulin impairs control of glucose, which can be very dangerous. Insulin resistance is a key component of type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes. People with type 1 diabetes who become sedentary and overweight can develop insulin resistance, a condition known as double diabetes.
  
  
• Reduce high blood pressure. Elevated blood pressure occurs when the tension of the blood in the walls of the arteries is greater than normal. It is a major risk factor for developing the cardiovascular problems common to people with diabetes.

• Improve cholesterol (a substance similar to fat that is present in all humans) profile. Studies indicate that regular physical activity helps improve total cholesterol in three ways:
  
  
• • Increases high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Commonly referred to as “good” cholesterol, HDLs travel freely throughout the bloodstream and do not cling to the walls of arteries. HDLs help prevent heart disease and stroke by carrying cholesterol away from the arteries, back to the liver and out of the body.
    
    
  • Reduces low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Also known as “bad” cholesterol, LDLs cling to artery walls and hinder blood flow to body parts.
    
    
  • Reduces triglycerides (fatty material that circulates through the blood or is stored as fat tissue). Elevated triglyceride levels in the blood increase the risk of plaque buildup and heart disease.
    
    
• Promote weight loss and management. Adhering to a regular exercise program helps patients achieve and maintain a healthy body weight. Research has demonstrated that it is almost impossible to maintain weight loss without an exercise program. Abdominal obesity has been linked to insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and double diabetes. Frequent physical activity can dramatically reduce fat deposits in the midsection.
  
  
• Reduce dietary restrictions. Many people with diabetes are limited in the amount of food they can eat each day. Because exercise burns calories (units of energy or heat) people with diabetes who participate in regular physical activity are generally able to eat more, control glucose and still maintain a healthy body weight.
  
  
• Relieve stress. Excess stress can raise blood glucose levels. This, in turn, can lead to diabetic complications. During exercise, the body releases special hormones called endorphins, which induce feelings of relaxation and well-being. These endorphins counteract the effects of stress and lower glucose levels.