What is Type 2 Diabetes?
Type 2 Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects the way the body processes blood sugar (glucose).
With Type 2 diabetes, the body either doesn't produce enough insulin, or it resists insulin.
Symptoms include increased thirst, frequent urination, hunger, fatigue, and blurred vision. In some cases, there may be no symptoms.
Insulin is the key that allows glucose to leave the bloodstream and be stored in the muscles. Over time the beta cells in the pancreas can stop producing insulin (similar to Type 1).
Type 2 Diabetes cannot be cured once you have been diagnosed. It can only be managed through diet, exercise, and medication.
This article will focus on the very important role exercise plays in delivering glucose from the blood stream into your working muscles.
Here is a summary of the many risk factors and note the ones that are within your control to change now before you develop Type 2 Diabetes:
Why should you be concerned about Type 2 Diabetes?
This disease is often referred to as ‘Adult-onset diabetes’.
Why not make improvements to your lifestyle now and not have to deal with the following complications?
Here is a summary of the recent exercise studies conducted:
If you do not understand all the studies above, I believe you will understand enough to realise how powerful exercise is, both planned and incidental. Whether your preference is walking, swimming, cycling, resistance training or HIIT, they all play a very important role, however you must MOVE MORE on top of this!
Some of you may have already heard that ‘Sitting is the new smoking?’
Here are some strategies for incidental movement:
Remember when pedometers were the ‘in thing’? Now they been replaced with Apps on your phone and fancy watches! They are all fantastic in making sure you aim for at least 7,500 steps per day but why stop there and let’s all aim for 10,000 steps per day like we were told over 10 years ago!!
Another great invention is the ‘sit to stand’ desk.
Set your alarm to get up and move every 30 minutes.
Drink more water so that you do have to get up from sitting and go to the bathroom.
In closing, I hope you have found this information as valuable as I did. Remember ‘knowledge is power’ and I always aim to share all the latest information that comes across my desk.
The team and I are always here to help. If you’d like discuss this topic with us, please get in touch or if you’d like to start your exercise regime, you can fill out our questionnaire HERE