4 ways exercise helps with diabetes management

This Week's Tip 4 ways exercise helps with diabetes management You probably already know about the importance of adding exercise to your treatment plan. But just how does exercise help? In addition to boosting your energy levels, mood, and capacity to burn calories for weight loss, regular exercise can lead to the following benefits for people with type 2 diabetes: Improved blood sugar control. Exercising on a regular basis makes muscles use insulin better so they are able to pull more glucose from the bloodstream to use for energy. The more vigorously you exercise, the more glucose you'll use, and the longer these positive effects on your blood glucose levels will last. Increased insulin sensitivity. People with type 2 diabetes need less insulin to move glucose from the bloodstream and into the cells that need it—but only when they exercise regularly. Reduced need for medication. Combined with a healthy eating plan, regular exercise can reduce—or even eliminate—the need for glucose-lowering medication in some people. And ultimately, that should be everyone's diabetes-management goal. Reduced cardiovascular risks. Diabetes has negative effects on heart health, increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases. Exercise reduces these risks by increasing HDL (good) cholesterol, lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol, and reducing triglycerides in the blood stream. Physical activity also improves blood flow, increases your heart's pumping power, and reduces blood pressure. Exercising with Type 2 Diabetes » More Tips for a People with Diabetes » Diabetes Friendly Recipe Slow Cooker Lasagna What a great dish for one of those nights when your kids have a late soccer game! Brown the meat, layer in the ingredients, set your slow cooker on low, and go! Get the Recipe See More Lower-Carb Recipes » Nutritional Info Servings Per Recipe: 8  Amount Per Serving  Calories: 271.4 Total Fat: 10.2 g Cholesterol: 56.5 mg Sodium: 284.4 mg Total Carbs: 18.1 g   Dietary Fiber: 1.6 g Protein: 24.9 g View full nutritional breakdown of Slow Cooker Lasagna by ingredient Join the movement by clicking the link below to earn your SparkPoints, or connecting with SparkPeople in one of these other ways: UNSUBSCRIBE © 2017 SparkPeople, Inc. All rights reserved. Terms | Privacy | Manage Emails