Sweet disease or diabetes mellitus is a whole group of pathological conditions, the main sign of which is a violation of metabolic processes. As a result, blood glucose levels can increase dramatically. This pathology is called hyperglycemia. It does not lend itself to treatment. People with such a disease can only achieve a certain state of compensation, in which they can slow down the progression of the disease and keep the sugar level within acceptable limits. Exercising for diabetics is one way.
Maintaining the required level of physical activity allows not only to lower blood sugar, but also stimulates the pancreas. Physical therapy also helps to maintain the functional abilities of internal organs, because with hyperglycemia they are exposed to serious negative effects.
In this review, we will consider how therapeutic exercises for diabetes are performed, are there any contraindications to its implementation.
Basic disease information
To understand why therapeutic exercises for type 2 diabetes can bring good results, it is necessary to consider the causes and mechanism of development of the disease itself. There are several forms of pathology that are considered the most common.
Type 1 diabetes
What is this ailment? In another way, this type is also called insulin-dependent. The peculiarity of this form is that the human pancreas is not able to produce the required amount of the hormone - insulin. This substance is required to transfer sugar molecules from the blood into the cells. Since it is not enough, they do not receive the required amount of sugar and begin to suffer from a lack of energy resources.
At the initial stage, diagnosing the disease can be quite difficult, because the body is trying to compensate for the pathology. However, when resources are exhausted, the clinical picture will manifest itself especially vividly. Unfortunately, this happens even when 85–87% of the cells of the insular apparatus are no longer able to function normally.
Type 2 diabetes
This form is non-insulin dependent. The pancreas still manages to synthesize enough insulin. However, sugar still remains in the blood, instead of penetrating into the cells. This is due to loss of tissue sensitivity to insulin. In another way, this condition is also called insulin resistance. It can arise under the influence of such factors as heredity, a sedentary lifestyle, malnutrition and excess weight.
In this case, treatment will consist in taking special drugs that lower the level of sugar. In this case, you should also follow a diet and provide the body with adequate physical activity.
Gestational form
Only pregnant women are affected by this type of disease. The disease has signs similar to type 2 diabetes, however, in addition to the above factors, hormonal changes also take part in its development. After giving birth, the disease completely disappears. In rare cases, the pathology takes the form of non-insulin-dependent diabetes.
Therapeutic exercises for diabetes: features
So what is she like? How is therapeutic exercises performed for type 2 diabetics? What does a set of exercises include? All movements included in it are aimed at preventing the further development of pathologies. In order for the main movements to be performed more efficiently, specialists for each clinical case separately develop an exercise therapy scheme.
With type 2 diabetes, a set of exercises helps to achieve the following results:
- Gives the patient confidence in their abilities.
- Forms a conscious attitude of the patient to the tasks assigned to him.
- Stimulates the patient to actively participate in the exercise therapy.
A rehabilitologist should choose a set of exercises for diabetes. This is a specialist who is developing a rehabilitation and treatment program for patients.
Compliance with a special diet
Gymnastics for diabetics must be accompanied by dietary adjustments. In type 2 diabetes, it is necessary to combat excess weight and improve the sensitivity of peripheral tissues. Type 1 diabetes requires a slightly different approach. This is due primarily to the fact that physical activity can contribute to an increase in the level of sugar in the bloodstream. A rehabilitologist and endocrinologist should explain to the patient at what indicators of blood sugar levels it is worth doing physical education, and when it is better to refuse to perform exercises.
Why do diabetics need exercise?
Clinical studies have shown that an active lifestyle has a positive effect on overall health. And this applies to both healthy and sick people. After several months of regular training, the body becomes more toned and elastic, and the skin begins to breathe freshness.
The course of physiotherapy for diabetes should be built on the basis of the following points:
- Exercise therapy becomes an integral part of the regimen of the day (work, rest and travel should not have any effect on the regularity of exercise).
- Every day, a patient should like gymnastics for diabetics. Only in this case, exercise therapy will be fun.
Physiotherapy exercises help to control body weight indicators. Performing exercises helps to reduce appetite and break down carbohydrates. In addition, after playing sports, you want to eat dishes and foods high in protein, not saccharides. Therefore, the basis for the treatment of diabetes should still be properly selected nutrition. Physical activity only strengthens its effectiveness.
How does exercise therapy help with the disease in question?
What can be achieved by regularly performing special exercises for diabetes? Physical activity has a positive effect on the general condition of the patient.
It provides an opportunity:
- Reduce blood sugar and fight insulin resistance.
- Strengthen and improve the body.
- Support the normal functioning of the heart muscle, respiration and blood vessels.
- Remove excess cholesterol from the body.
- Slow atherosclerotic vascular damage.
- Increase performance.
- Reduce the likelihood of micro- and macroangiopathy.
- Activate metabolic processes at the level of peripheral tissues.
- Restore the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Normalize the psycho-emotional state.
Diabetes exercises of varying severity
What is their feature? Diabetes is subdivided not only by the mechanism of development, but also by the severity of the disease. These factors influence the choice of a set of exercises. For mild diabetes, you can play sports for 40 minutes per day. In case of a disease of moderate severity, exercise can be performed for 25-30 minutes a day. With a severe form of the disease, exercise is allowed for 15 minutes. What exercises can be performed with various degrees of the disease?
Mild
Gymnastics for type 2 diabetics in this form includes exercises aimed at all groups of the muscular system. Training can take place at either a fast or slow pace. Rehabilitologists also recommend using projectiles such as the Swedish stairs and bench to perform exercises.
Together with the complex of therapeutic exercises, experts advise to make long walks, do swimming, yoga and jogging.
Medium grade
Gymnastics for diabetics in this case should also be aimed at working out the entire muscle apparatus. However, with this form of development of the disease, all exercises are performed at a moderate pace. As in the first case, hiking is recommended here. However, distances should not exceed 6–7 km. The set of exercises in this case should be designed so that the density of physical activity does not exceed 50%.
Severe degree
In this state, the disease is extremely difficult. At this stage, the vessels of the brain, lower limbs, kidneys, heart, and visual analyzer are affected. Therefore, exercise should be treated with extreme caution. How does exercise therapy work in case of type 2 diabetes? A set of exercises for a diabetic should be performed at a slow pace. Only fine motor skills and the middle muscle group should be worked out. Exercises can be performed only one hour after the injection of insulin and the ingestion of food products. These recommendations will help reduce the risk of developing a hypoglycemic condition in which blood sugar levels are reduced to a critical value. Even for bedridden patients, there are complexes of therapeutic exercises. They are mainly represented by breathing techniques that are especially effective in diabetes.
Contraindications
This moment should be given special significance. Can everyone do physical therapy for diabetes? Gymnastics is recommended only if the effectiveness of its implementation is noticeable. You can engage in sports provided that the blood sugar does not exceed 14 mmol / l. This is especially true for type 2 disease, since it is easier to balance the amount of insulin used for injection with physical activity and diet. Checking your sugar level before your workout is what all diabetics should do. Gymnastics with elevated blood sugar should not be performed.
Exercise therapy should also not be practiced if you have the following symptoms:
- severe decompensation;
- low performance and weakness;
- critical spikes in sugar levels;
- heart failure;
- developing lesion of the visual analyzer;
- hypertensive crisis.
In any case, the patient must undergo a comprehensive examination before starting the exercise therapy course.
Specialists should evaluate:
- the severity of the disease;
- the presence of pathologies and complications;
- condition of blood vessels and heart.
To make a decision, a qualified doctor must study the results of the Cooper test, electrocardiogram, bicycle ergometry. Also, the patient should be examined by an ophthalmologist, surgeon, neurologist and surgeon.
Conclusion
Physical therapy for diabetes helps to achieve amazing results. It helps the patient maintain blood sugar levels, has a general healing effect on the whole body. However, there are a number of contraindications in which gymnastics for diabetics is not recommended. Consultation of a professional in this case is required. Health is the key to a successful life for any person, so take care of it!