Keeping Active with Diabetes
Keeping active is an important part of one's lifestyle, and particularly for those who either have or are at risk of diabetes.
Even a little extra activity can have a lot of benefits, such as improving insulin sensitivity, improving your feeling of well being, controlling your weight, reducing risks of cancer and heart problems and helping strengthen bones as well as muscles.
How much activity should I be doing?
Any extra activity you can fit into your day is a plus. The minimum recommended level of activity is 30 minutes at least 5 days a week.
Children should aim for at least an hour a day. The British Heart Foundation recommends that we take 10,000 steps per day to promote a healthy heart; this is equivalent to about 5 miles.
What counts as activity?
Activity counts as anything that will up your heart rate a little.
This could include any of the following:
- a brisk walk
- climbing flights of stairs
- shopping (not internet shopping though!)
- gardening
- housework
- DIY
- dancing
- yoga, pilates, tai chi
- active sports
Motivation towards being more active
Some people find it difficult to commit to being more active citing not having enough time as one of the reasons. Whilst activity does involve some investment of time, in the longer run, a little activity or exercise can help to free up time as well as providing you with more vitality.
Some of the health advantages of raw food diets are a result of the reliance on freshly prepared food and the high amount of fruit and vegetables involved.
Activity allows the brain to function better and can help to compulsive behaviours which can lead to your time being better spent. The term healthy body, healthy mind rings true.