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Can Exercise Reverse the Effects of Diabetes?

By Dr Christopher Segler

Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 10Jun2009 Word count: 985 Viewed: 387 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site

Anyone who has seen a show like the Biggest Loser has likely heard stories of people with diabetes becoming non-diabetic after taking up a program of exercise. We all know that exercise can make you feel better, become healthier and live a longer life. The question is whether or not exercise can really "cure" diabetes. In this article we will discuss the effects that exercise can have on diabetes.

In the simplest of terms, diabetes is a disease where the body cannot effectively produce or use a hormone known as insulin. Without insulin, the blood sugar increases and carbohydrates and sugars are not used effectively by the body's cells. Most diabetes treatments focus on controlling blood sugar either by administering insulin directly or through the use medications that change the body's ability to use insulin.

One of the very best ways to treat diabetes is with exercise. We know that when a patient has diabetes, diet and exercise can significantly change the course of the disease. In fact, studies have shown that after 45 minutes of aerobic exercise, such as brisk walking or running, a diabetic patient's insulin sensitivity may increase for up to 48 hours.

This is extremely beneficial for type 2 diabetics. A study published in 2009 clearly demonstrated that 150 minutes of exercise each week dramatically increased insulin sensitivity. This increase in the body's ability to use the insulin that is already present may mean the difference between taking insulin shots or not for a type 2 diabetic.

Not only can aerobic exercise control diabetes by changing the way the body uses insulin, but it also can help a number of other diabetes related conditions. We know that in all people, exercise can lower cholesterol levels. Hyperlipidemia or high cholesterol is another condition affecting diabetics. We know that the VLDL and LDL (bad cholesterol) is lowered with exercise, while HDL (good cholesterol) is increased.

In addition, walking and other forms of regular aerobic exercise can lower blood pressure. Hypertension or high blood pressure is a common complication of diabetes. We know that regular exercise will typically reduce the blood pressure by an average of 10 mm/Hg. By lowering blood pressure, the risk of heart attack, stroke and death is reduced.

Obesity is another problem that is closely associated with diabetes. Obesity alone is a major risk factor for heart disease. It also leads to insulin resistance, making diabetes harder to manage. When someone with diabetes loses 15 to 20 pounds, the fasting insulin levels can drop by 30 to 50%. As a result, there is much better blood glucose control.

Heart attacks and strokes are also common in type 2 diabetic patients. In fact, about 20% of type 2 diabetics already have coronary artery disease by the time they are diagnosed with diabetes. Regular aerobic activity such as walking has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.

If we compare two identical people however one has diabetes and one does not, the person who has diabetes is four times more likely to have a heart attack. Thanks to the work of Dr. Kenneth Cooper, we know that aerobic exercise can prolong a person's life. In 1968, he wrote a book entitled Aerobics. At the time he was widely criticized for his opinions about prolonging life through vigorous exercise. Today his theories are scientific fact.

More recently, a study published by Stanford University researchers provided encouraging news for all inactive adults. So don't think you need to be a marathon runner in order to benefit from exercise. Those who are completely sedentary and started a modest exercise program cut their risk of a cardiovascular death nearly in a half. This shows that the greatest benefits of exercise in terms of health and longevity are the easiest to achieve.

Your muscles must have oxygen in order to function. Oxygen is carried to the muscles in the bloodstream. The arteries can become damaged by diabetes. Poor circulation known as peripheral arterial disease can gradually decrease the amount of blood flow to your feet. This can put you at risk for gangrene. Gangrene is one of the leading causes of diabetic foot amputations.

One way to combat this problem is with exercise. When you walk, the muscles in your feet and legs use up oxygen at a much higher rate than normal. In order to keep up with this demand, blood flow is increased to the area. If you are in the process of developing peripheral arterial disease, you will have to develop additional blood vessels in order to keep up with the demand for oxygen caused by exercise. Doctors call this collateral circulation. In essence, you develop backup blood vessels, which can prevent you from having poor circulation. This will only occur if you exercise.

All people that have diabetes are at risk for developing open sores on their feet known as diabetic foot ulcers. These open wounds are the precursors that lead to diabetic foot amputations. Because of this, wound healing is very important. A number of studies have clearly shown that exercise helps dramatically speed wound healing. Wounds that heal faster are much less likely to become infected and lead to an amputation.

When the blood sugar is high, the white blood cells that directly fight infection by eating the bacteria are essentially disabled. By reducing the blood glucose, a diabetic patient can increase the effectiveness of his or her immune system. This can mean the difference between a simple open sore and a diabetic foot infection that leads to an amputation.

The whole emphasis of treating diabetes is preventing long-term complications. With so many positive effects of exercise it is clear that any diabetic patient could benefit from exercise. Although exercise may not cure diabetes, there is no doubt that every diabetic can benefit from a structured walking or exercise program. As with any type of exercise, be sure to consult with your personal physician before starting a new exercise routine.

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