With: Lara Bowyer
Diabetes is a group of conditions that affect the body’s ability to maintain the correct amount of sugar (glucose) in the bloodstream. The most common form of diabetes is type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is a form of insulin resistance, where the body’s cells become less sensitive to the hormone insulin. Insulin is a hormone that essentially unlocks the pathway for glucose to move from the bloodstream into the cell. Due to the cell being less sensitive to insulin, it becomes harder for blood glucose levels to be maintained. Type 1 diabetes is another common form of diabetes. This form occurs due to the body’s own immune system attacking the pancreas and stopping insulin from being created in the first place. This means that insulin levels need to be maintained through medication.
Exercise is an essential part of management for all forms of diabetes. Through both resistance exercise and aerobic exercise, people with diabetes can better manage their condition and in some cases reverse the effects. Resistance exercise can improve the cells sensitivity to insulin and leads to greater amounts of muscle mass, which means that the body has a greater need for glucose. Aerobic exercise allows the body to uptake glucose without the requirement of insulin.
Despite Diabetes being a common condition, it is sometimes very tricky to commence exercise (either for the first time), or following diagnosis. For safe exercise, tailored to your needs and supervised by our physiotherapist Lara, join Entire Physio’s Diabetes Care Exercise Classes. Lara lives with Type 1 Diabetes and has competed at a National Level in Netball, therefore has many years of first hand experience juggling Diabetes and exercise.
Click to view times for our Diabetes Care Exercise Classes: