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Calling exercise "an underutilized therapy,"
the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) explains in a position
statement that very few diabetic patients use exercise as a way to help
control their symptoms and lower their risk of developing serious complications,
despite the fact that it has proven benefits.
According to the group, some of the positive effects
that physical activity can have on patients with type 2 diabetes are:
"Physical activity, including appropriate endurance
and resistance training, is a major therapeutic modality for type 2 diabetes,"
the committee concludes. They recommend that diabetics exercise 3 to 5
times a week and burn a total of about 1,000 calories. Patients can begin
with 10-15 minutes of exercise and work up to 30 minutes per session.
An estimated 16 million Americans suffer from type
2 diabetes, a disorder whose long-term complications include heart disease,
blindness and kidney failure. In this disorder, cells are unresponsive
to insulin, causing blood sugar levels to. Over the long term, excessively
high blood glucose erodes blood vessels and nerves leading to heart disease,
kidney failure, blindness, neuropathy and even amputation.
People with diabetes should exercise at whatever intensity
leads to improvements in cardiovascular endurance. In some people, even
a low to moderate intensity exercise program can lower blood glucose and
increase insulin sensitivity, the authors note.
The committee recommends that patients consult their
doctor for a thorough physical examination, which will assess any risks
for injury.
Medicine and Science
in Sports and Medicine 2000.
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