Blood glucose levels in diabetics are relatively unstable because of the body’s inability to efficiently use the insulin produced and this is why approaches like exercise may be used to maintain them. In diabetes, insulin which is required to keep the body’s blood sugar levels under check, is either not produced sufficiently by the pancreas or the cells in the body fail to absorb the glucose present in the blood. (to understand how exactly this happens click here). This results in excess of glucose left behind in the blood stream. To lower the harmful levels of excess glucose in the blood physical activity is the most advised and sought after therapy for diabetics. And because diabetes is also sometimes characterized by very fluctuating sugar levels due to improper production of insulin, there is every chance of the blood glucose to fall below normal levels. Sticking to a recommended physical regime helps to maintain normal blood sugar levels. There are also symptoms experienced by diabetics if the physical activity is dragged to excessive levels where the patient experiences hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels). A knowledge of these symptoms helps to better monitor the physical activity.


Before you take up exercise as a therapy for your diabetes, do not overlook the help that a medical practitioner can provide to you. Keep your doctor informed about your exercise routine and he/she may be of help to you in giving you knowledge on the time and physical extent that you could go to, in your particular case. Generally it is found advisable for patients with type2 diabetes to go on a 30 minute exercise regime every day. Some most helpful and advised exercises for diabetes are:


- Walking/ Jogging: About five miles per day of walking should be the target of diabetics opting for walking as a physical activity. This has to be brisk walking to make sure calories are being burned and weight reduction should also be monitored.


- Yoga/ Aerobics: Stress, obesity and hypertension are found to be major concerns for diabetes, in the form of causes or effects. Yoga, meditation and aerobics are therapies which address these concerns very skillfully and particularly. Several yoga poses, meditation therapies and aerobics are designed distinctly for diabetes, addressing to managing its most common symptoms.


- Other hobbies/activities: Sport activities that you always liked doing should be included in your physical activity regime. Sports like basket ball, swimming, biking, tennis, etc can help you be motivated towards your goal of regular exercise particularly if these are the things that you like doing. However, these should not be overdone and your physical endurance is always to be respected.


It is most advised never to rule out the possibility of hypogylycemia during physical activity for diabetics and measure should be taken before and during any such situation.