As you’ve probably heard, a lot of chronic diseases can be managed or prevented with physical activity. When it comes to diabetes, allowing employees to become more active through regular activity delivers a lot of benefits.
Benefits of exercise
Physical activity is effective at stabilizing blood sugar, which can help control or minimize their risk for diabetes. A common misconception is that physical activity only has this effect when it causes a person to lose weight. While weight loss definitely helps to reduce glucose levels, physical activity also helps control blood glucose levels regardless of weight.
During exercise, the body can take sugar out of the bloodstream without the use of insulin, the hormone that your body relies on to regulate blood sugar levels. Muscles need glucose to power their movement, so they take this glucose from the blood, which in turn helps to lower blood sugar. Over time, regular physical activity can increase muscle mass, which helps use even more glucose. Furthermore, strength training helps the body use insulin better.
The American Diabetes Association recommends a mix of both cardiovascular exercise and strength training for blood sugar control. Helpful cardiovascular exercises can include:
• Brisk walking
• Jogging and/or running
• Biking
• Using an elliptical or treadmill
• Zumba and other aerobics
Regular physical activity can also help employees keep at a healthy body weight, which is recommended for everyone with or at risk for diabetes. In addition, those with prediabetes can lower chances of developing Type 2 diabetes by adding in more physical activity into their daily schedule.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says, “…being active makes your body more sensitive to insulin, which helps manage your diabetes.”
Making time for daily physical activity.
For many employees, finding time in a busy schedule to exercise can be a challenge. But there are small changes they can make to contribute to a more active life. For example:
• Using the bathroom on a different floor of the building they work in
• Taking the stairs as an alternative to the elevator
• Taking small five-minute breaks throughout the workday to fit in strength training with smaller weights or resistance bands
Don’t have hand weights? No problem. Some strength-building exercises that don’t require the use of equipment include planks, regular push-ups, wall push-ups and squats.
Insulin and exercise have an important relationship.
For employees on insulin, it is crucial they monitor blood glucose levels during and after physical activity. They may need to adjust their insulin dose or carbohydrate intake to prevent blood sugar from dropping too low.
As always, employees should talk to their healthcare provider before any sudden change in activity, especially with a chronic illness like diabetes.
Be sure to always have a good health plan in place so you can be prepared for the unexpected. Contact our team at any time to see how we can assist with your health insurance.
