Type 1 and 2 diabetes is a major deal in the United States. Statistics show that more than 14.6 million people are diagnosed with diabetes each year. There are many ways to fight this disease, however, many people simply give up. Exercise has been proven to treat diabetes along with proper diet. Here are a few benefits of exercise for anyone living with diabetes.

1) Exercise increases insulin sensitivity.

The big problem for Type 2 diabetics is insulin insensitivity. By exercising you can improve how well your insulin works. This will ultimately help you to control your blood glucose levels.

Remember, there are 2 types of diabetes. Type I diabetes is when the pancreas makes too little or no insulin. An individual with diabetes type I will have to inject insulin throughout the day in order to control their glucose levels. Type II diabetes is characterized by the pancreas not producing enough insulin to control glucose levels. It can also mean that the cells are not responding to the insulin. When a cell does not respond to insulin, it is commonly known as insulin resistance.

The risk factors for type II diabetes include a feeling of laziness, high cholesterol, obesity, and hypertension. Just by being lazy the person will have a very strong risk factor that has been proven to lead to type 2 diabetes. When a person is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, they are told to exercise and diet in order to help with their insulin resistance.

A few things they should follow when dieting is to eat a low-fat diet and limit calories from saturated fats. The recommendations also include eating complete sources of protein, and limiting calories from protein. It is worth noting that protein plays an added role in a diabetic diet. Protein can actually slowly transform into glucose. Consuming appropriate amounts of protein can help a person who has either type I or II diabetes to manage their blood sugar levels.

If dieting and exercise does not work, then medication will be prescribed by the doctor.

2) Exercising will improve your cholesterol levels.

Exercise helps by raising the good cholesterol and lowering the bad. This is good news for diabetics because they are always at increased risk for cardiovascular disease.

Exercise causes the body to process glucose much faster. This will in turn lower blood sugar dramatically. The more intense the exercise, the faster the body will burn glucose.

3) Exercise will strengthen your heart..

Cardiovascular exercise is a major benefit to diabetics. With a stronger heart you will be able to exercise much harder. You will be able to go throughout your day and carry out tasks much easier. Many people do not exercise because they feel as though they do not have the energy. One key to remember is that exercise will give you energy.

4) Exercise can decrease blood pressure.

Many diabetics also have high blood pressure. Exercising can reduce your blood pressure when you are resting or exercising. Keep in mind that your heart is responsible for pumping blood throughout your entire body. This is also very important for reducing your chances of heart disease and stroke.

5) Exercise can improve your mood.

Diabetes can be a very stressful disease on anyone who lives with it. One thing great about exercising for anyone is that you feel really good about yourself. Exercise can even improve depression. Depression has been found to be a major cause of suicide. Yes, you have diabetes, but it does not mean you cannot lead a normal life.

Copyright 2007 Donald Mckenzie Jr