Why make room for exercise?
Yes, absolutely. In fact, regular exercise should have a predominant place in our diabetes management toolkit and be seen as a critical weapon to fight diabetes.
Exercise is associated with many health benefits in people with diabetes:
Reduces HbA1c
Reduces total insulin needs
Improves cardio and respiratory fitness
Improves blood lipid and body composition profile
Improves blood vessels health
Reduces rates of diabetes-related complications, such as eye and kidney issues
Reduces risk of cardiovascular and neurological disease, and overall mortality
What are the benefits of physical activity and exercise?
There is substantial evidence that physical activity is beneficial for human health. People who regularly exercise score higher in self-rated health surveys, have significantly lower rates of type 2 diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular and neurological disease, and live healthier and longer than people who are less active.
Exercise is associated with the implementation and maintenance of other healthy behaviors and habits, such as eating healthier diets. Indeed, exercise is proven to be an efficient tool to assist people who wish to stop smoking or reduce their alcohol consumption.
Do the benefits go beyond glucose management?
Maintaining perfect glycemic control with time in range as close to 100% as possible should not be the only thing we focus on as diabetics.
While clinically acceptable glycemic control can be achieved without exercise, scientific studies show that moderate levels of physical activity are associated with a healthier and longer life in people with diabetes even when adjusted for HbA1c levels.
This means that even among diabetics with similar glycemic control, the ones who engage in some form of physical activity tend to live a healthier and longer life than the ones who are less active.
By improving our body composition profile, building muscle mass, and increasing insulin sensitivity, exercise can be key to unlock better glycemic control. Nevertheless, scientific studies underscore that the benefits of exercise go well beyond glycemic control.
Exercise is a powerful weapon that we can use to help us focus on living a more fulfilling life. A life where eating a slice of cake doesn’t send our blood glucose levels through the roof. A life where we explore new challenges. A life where we can be more spontaneous. A life where we break down the barriers that diabetes constantly tries to impose on us.