As a specialist in Family Medicine, Dr. Bikash Chowdhury stresses that if you want to stay fit and healthy, regular exercise is vital. This is particularly true if you have diabetes. After all, working out can help you to lose weight and keep your blood sugar levels in check.
For people with diabetes who want to start exercising a little more often, Dr. Bikash Chowdhury believes the following five tips are likely to come in handy:
1. Monitor your sugar levels
Carefully monitoring your sugar levels while you are working out will help you prevent issues such as hypoglycemia – which can cause you to lose consciousness during your workout. If you do notice your blood sugars dip a little low, you can grab a high-carb snack to stabilize it again.
2. Speak to your doctor
It is essential to consult your doctor before starting any exercise program, especially if you have health problems like diabetes. A doctor will advise you on the right exercise program for you and let you know what you should and should not be doing as part of your exercise regimen.
3. Start with short workouts
If you are just starting out, concentrate on workouts that you can complete in 10 minutes or less. Aim for 2 to 3 sessions of 10 minutes each per day until your fitness levels improve. Build up to 30-minute workouts slowly as you become fitter.
4. Get a workout buddy
Having someone to share workouts with is a great incentive to stay on course until you reach your fitness goals. Not only do workout buddies help you stick to the program, but they can also make exercising a lot more fun. You should ideally choose someone with the same goals and fitness level. However, a person who has been exercising longer is also great as they can motivate you to reach and exceed their level.
5. Get a medical bracelet
Wear a bracelet that identifies you as a person with diabetes in case you encounter problems while working out away from a familiar environment. The Bracelet should also contain your name and address as well as similar details for your emergency contact person. Indicate whether or not you take insulin and explain what to do in case you go into diabetic shock on your bracelet.
In Closing
Exercising regularly can be a great way to keep your diabetes in check. When you follow the tips outlined above as well as your doctor’s professional advice, you can be confident that you are going about your workouts safely and effectively.
About Dr. Bikash Chowdhury:
Dr. Bikash Chowdhury is a specialist in family medicine and a devoted husband and father of a son and a daughter. He knows that family comes first, so he treats his patients with respect, devotion, and compassion. Dr. Chowdhury is also devoted to helping other Bangladesh physicians transition to North America just like he did when he decided to move with his family to Canada.