Diabetic? Exercise Is Essential
By Gabe Mirkin, M.D.
Thirty-five percent of all Americans will develop diabetes, which can
cause heart attacks, strokes, blindness, deafness, impotence, amputations,
kidney failure and sudden death.
Three studies show why virtually all
diabetics should exercise. The first study shows that exercising before a
meal markedly reduces the rise in blood sugar that usually peaks 20
minutes after you eat (Lipids in Health & Disease, October 2005). The
second shows that exercise lowers HBA1C in diabetics (Journal of Obesity,
October 2002), while the third shows that exercise lowers high blood
pressure (Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, August 2005)
When you eat, your blood sugar level rises. In diabetics, most of the
damage is done within 20 minutes after you eat because that's the time
that blood sugar level are at their highest. The higher blood sugar
rises, the more sugar sticks on cells. Once sugar is stuck on a cell, it
can never get off. It is eventually converted to a poison called sorbitol
that destroys the cell. This cell destruction causes all of the horrible
side effects of diabetes.
Doctors measure the amount of sugar stuck on cells with a blood test
called HBA1C. The first goal in treating diabetes is to use drugs and diet
to get HBA1C below 6. Since blood sugar level are highest 20 minutes
after you eat, you should do everything possible to prevent the high rise
in blood sugar that follows meals.
The only places that your body can
store sugar are in your muscles and your liver. After you eat, sugar goes
from your intestines into your bloodstream. Then if your muscles are empty
from exercise, the sugar can pass into your muscles. However, if your
muscles are full because you do not exercise, the sugar has no place to go
and blood sugar rises to very high levels to stick to cells and destroy
your body.
Exercise is also vital for diabetics because it helps to control blood
pressure. Eighty percent of diabetics die of heart disease, and anything
that increases risk for heart attacks puts diabetics in danger. High blood
pressure is a major risk for heart attacks and strokes. Since exercise
lowers high blood pressure, it helps to prevent heart attacks and thus to
keep diabetics alive.
Dr. Gabe Mirkin has been a radio talk show host for 25 years and
practicing physician for more than 40 years; he is board certified
in four specialties, including sports medicine. Read or listen to
hundreds of his fitness and health reports at http://www.DrMirkin.com
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