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One of the most effective ways to lower blood sugar amount, greatly reduce the dangers of heart disease, and increase health and welfare is exercise.

In today’s inactive world where almost every job can be carried out online, from the ergonomic chair in front of a computer, or with a line of messages from a fax machine, exercising can be a hard argument to win over.

The Importance of Exercise

Everyone should exercise, yet health experts say that only 30% of the United States population gets the recommended thirty minutes of daily physical activity, and 25% are not active at all. In fact, inactivity is thought to be one of the key reasons for the surge of type II diabetes in the U.S., because inactivity and obesity lead to insulin resistance.

The good news is that it is never too late to get moving, and exercise is one of the easiest ways to start controlling your diabetes. For people with type II diabetes, exercise can improve insulin sensitivity and lower the risk of heart disease, and help with weight lo

Type II Diabetes

Diabetes is growing. The number of people diagnosed with diabetes every year increased by 48% between 1980 and 1994. Mostly all the new cases are Type II Diabetes, or adult-onset. Symptoms of Type II Diabetes include increased thirst, appetite, and need to urinate; feeling tired, edgy, or sick to the stomach; blurred vision; tingling or loss of feeling in the hands.

The causes of type II diabetes are not completely understood, although research is uncovering new clues.

However, it has already been proven that one of the reasons for the large growth in type II diabetes is the widening of waistbands and the trend toward a more deskbound and inactive lifestyle in the United States and other developed countries. In America, the shift has been striking; in the 1990s alone, obesity increased by 61% and diagnosed diabetes by 49%.

To fight the onslaught, health experts encourage those who already have type II diabetes to start exercising to get the benefits therein. Without exercise, people have the tendency to become obese. Once they are obese, they have bigger chances of accumulating type II diabetes.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that over 80% of people with type II diabetes are clinically overweight. It is past time that people, whether inflicted with type II diabetes or not, should start doing those jumping and stretching activities.

Getting Started

The first order of business with any exercise plan is to consult with your health care provider. If you have cardiac risk factors, the health care provider may want to perform a stress test to establish a safe level of exercise for you.

Certain diabetic complications will also determine what type of exercise program you can take on. Weightlifting, jogging, or high-impact aerobics can possibly pose a risk for people with diabetic retinopathy due to the risk for further blood vessel damage and possible retinal detachment.

If you are already active in sports or work out regularly, it will still benefit you to discuss your regular routine with your doctor. If you are taking insulin, you may need to take special precautions to prevent hypoglycemia during your workout.

Start Slow

For those who have type II diabetes, your exercise routine can be as simple as a brisk nightly neighborhood walk. If you have not been very active before now, start slowly and work your way up. Walk the dog or get out in the yard and rake. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Park in the back of the lot and walk to the store. Every little bit does work, in fact, it really helps a lot.

15 to 30 minutes of daily, heart-pumping exercise can make a big difference in your blood glucose control and your risk of developing diabetic complications. One of the easiest and least expensive ways of getting moving is to start a walking program. All you need is a good pair of well-fitting, supportive shoes and a direction to head in.

You do not have to spend a lot of money on costly “health club memberships,” or the most up-to-date health device to start pumping those fats out. What you need is the willingness and the determination to start exercising to a healthier, type II diabetes-free life.

Exercise your way to diabetic health.

Diabetics have similar interests as many people who do not have diabetes.
We enjoy, music, sports and oh yes, travel. Travel is one way that we reduce tension and ease the conditions that cause the disease to effect our bodies.

Preparing for travel can improve the experience while reducing the stress that could be present.

Diabetic travel can be as enjoyable as any other with adequate planning and diabetic supplies handy.

Here are some tips to consider before you leave on your trip.

1. Medicines: Use the expected trip duration to determine the amount of each medication to take.
What is the daily dosage?
How many days are involved?
Remember to keep insulin refrigerated. At the lodging, refrigerators, or other cooling devices will be available. While en route, insulated coolers or specially made diabetic insulated wallets should be used.

2. Prescriptions and doctor’s notes: Consult your doctor before the trip. Ask your doctor to write prescriptions that you will need and a note describing your condition. The note, along with other identifiers, like a medical bracelet, will alert medical personnel about your condition. Be aware that you may need to contact your insurance provider if there are limits to the amount of medication that is allowed within a certain period.

3. Clothing: Take diabetic shoes and several pairs of diabetic socks for foot comfort and protection while traveling. Remember; NEVER go barefoot, not even at the pool or in the shower.

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4. Food: Plan your itinerary carefully. You should have a good idea WHEN and WHERE you will have meals. Meal times should be as close to regular meal times as possible.
When moving through time zones, account for time changes in your meal plans. Something that reminds you, like a watch with an alarm, will be helpful.
For snacks or emergencies, take along a supply of glucose tablets or sugar-free products. If you must have a meal outside of the plan, look for a place that is known to have menu selections that are reasonable.

5.Traveling by air: The TSA (Transportation Security Administration) recommends that people traveling with prescriptions, should have them clearly identified.
The TSA does allow multiple containers of items used to control blood sugar, like glucose. Alternatives, such as glucose tablets, should be considered. Long or repeated exposure to x-ray machines will make insulin unstable. However, never place insulin in checked baggage due to the dangers there.

For more information about air travel, contact the TSA.
a. Phone: (866-289-9673)
b. Web: www.tsa.gov