Vital Steps Wellness Program:
Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease where the body does not produce or
properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and
other food into energy needed for daily life. Obesity and lack of exercise appear to play
roles in the cause of diabetes.
How Does It Affect Me?
Type 1-diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and
young adults known in the past as juvenile diabetes. Type 1-diabetes does not produce
insulin. Insulin is necessary for the body to be able to use sugar, sugar is the basic
fuel for the cells in the body, and insulin takes the sugar from the blood into the cells.
Type 1-diabetes is serious, but with today's advances in medicine people are living long
happy lives.
Type 2-diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. In
type 2-diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells disregard
the insulin. Once the insulin is ignored, there can be a build up of un-used glucose in
the blood. When glucose builds up instead of going into cells, it can cause two problems:
- Your cells may be starved for energy
- High blood glucose levels may damage your eyes, kidneys,
nerves or heart.
What Effect Will Exercise Have On It?
Exercise is a slow but a continuous process. You must
take a step at a time. Taking the first step can be difficult, especially if you've been
diagnosed with diabetes.
You can always improve your level of fitness. Exercise
includes anything that gets you active, such as walking, dancing, or working in the
garden. You can gain many benefits of being physically active through personal fitness
sessions, group classes, playing sports, being physically fit provides you with strength,
flexibility and endurance needed for your daily activities.
Physical activity can lower your blood glucose, blood
pressure and cholesterol. Activity reduces your risk of heart disease and stroke, relieves
stress, and strengthens your heart, muscles and bones. Furthermore, regular activity helps
insulin works better, as the blood glucose balance is constantly working to ensure that
you have enough sugar to exercise, enough to re-fuel after your workout, and enough to
sleep. If you're trying to lose weight, a combination of physical activity and wise food
choices can assist you to reach your target weight and maintain it.
When beginning a new program IT IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED
THAT:
- If you're starting out after awhile of inactivity, start
with ten minutes a day then add more little by little. Work up to ten minutes at a time,
three times a day
- Each day do something active before or during the workday
- Choose from many activities i.e., going for a walk or
following along an aerobic class on DVD or TV.
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