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Physical activity and exercise
Physical activity is a key part of your management plan. Regular physical activity offers everyone a payoff, and it provides the added benefit for a person with diabetes of aiding blood glucose control. All physical activity counts--you don't have to go to a gym. Dancing, walking, taking the stairs--such activities can provide the desired benefits. Being active works on diabetes in the following ways:
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Physical activity can lower the level of blood glucose and improve the body's ability to use glucose. With regular exercise, the amount of insulin needed decreases.
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Physical activity can also help reverse the resistance to insulin that occurs as a result of being overweight. There is an increase in the number of insulin receptors, improving the body's ability to use insulin.
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Physical activity decreases the risk of heart problems, a major health concern of people with diabetes.
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Exercise can reduce the body's level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or bad cholesterol, which forms plaque that obstructs blood vessels. It also raises levels of good cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), which is protective against heart disease. Regular physical activity has been shown to improve blood pressure, too.
Someone with Type II diabetes may be able to control his or her blood glucose with regular physical activity combined with a meal plan. This section has information on:
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