How does getting exercise help control diabetes?
Regular exercise helps with weight loss, cardiovascular health, and blood pressure control, and it gives you a sense of well-being. Talk to your doctor before you start exercising if you’re at high risk for heart disease or you haven’t exercised at all. Start slowly and build up. Four to five times a week is a good goal, but one size doesn’t fit all. What’s most important is to get out there and break a sweat, and do it regularly. Q: If you have type 2 diabetes, do you need to check your blood glucose levels with a glucose meter? A: Everyone with diabetes should check their blood sugar with a glucose monitor on a regular basis—how frequently will depend on how much your blood sugar varies. It will help you identify what symptoms are caused by blood sugars that are either high or low. You’ll also learn the effects of your self-care behavior. If you eat a big slice of pizza and two hours later your blood sugar is 250, for example, you might think again before eating that in the future. Q
