Exercise: Good, Better, Best

David Mendosa Living With It Medical Journalist Living with Diabetes and Author of Fitness and Photography for Fun, www.mendosa.com/fitnessblog After earning a B.A. with honors from the University of California,... Send Message Subscribe: David Mendosa

Sunday, January 13, 2008
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Any exercise can help us control our diabetes. But when we get 45 minutes each of aerobic exercise and resistance training for just three days a week, we can reduce our A1C a lot. In fact, this combination works about as well as any prescription drug can. People with diabetes who worked out half the ...

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Exercise for Type II diabetics
Adam Becker Sr
Monday, January 14, 2008 at 02:35 PM

David,

Can you recommend resources for diabetics wanting to do serious exercise work? There's a lot of good exercise books out there, but none (that I can find) have chapters on the special needs of diabetics.

E.g., quite a few of the books on resistance exercise recommend eating fast carbs + protein right before exercising. The resulting insulin spike helps build muscle. OK, but many type II diabetics have lost their first-phase insulin response, and the carbs will drive their blood glucose too high. Is anybody addressing these kinds of issues?

re: Exercise for Type II diabetics
David Mendosa
Monday, January 14, 2008 at 02:57 PM

Dear Adam,

Good questions. I don't know, although you are so right about avoiding a high-carb diet. Maybe some other readers will chip in with their advice. I am myself getting a personal trainer instead of relying on a book.

Best regards,

David

re: Exercise for Type II diabetics
Gretchen Becker
Monday, January 14, 2008 at 04:56 PM
Sheri Colberg has type 1 and she's written several books on exercise for people with diabetes. She also has a blog on diabetes and exercise: http://blog.shericolberg.com/

re: Exercise for Type II diabetics
joanne rinker
Thursday, January 17, 2008 at 03:09 PM

Adam,
if you are interested, I am a diabetes coach. Our team of certified diabetes educators would be able to help with both your exercise, nutrition and management needs. Check out our website fit4d.com
Joanne

re: re: Exercise for Type II diabetics
kathy
Friday, January 18, 2008 at 12:20 PM

Joanne-
I have been watching the weekly video FAQ's at your website. Adam, these are very short tips but it might be helpful.
http://media.fit4d.com/videos_faq_index.html

re: re: re: Exercise for Type II diabetics
joanne
Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at 08:49 AM

so glad to see that you are enjoying these. You can also go on-line and view our webinars. If you go to the website you can check out the calendar. I will be teaching one on organic and locally grown foods in June but there are others that are geared toward exercise coming up!
Enjoy,
Joanne Rinker MS, RD, CDE, LDN
jrinker@fit4d.com
www.fit4d.com

Bernstein
Christopher Wheeler
Wednesday, January 16, 2008 at 04:03 AM

David,

What do you think about Bernstein's method in his book, with cardiovascular or anaerobic exercise.

The thing about aerobic exercise is, based on every anatomy/physiology or biochemistry class I have ever taken (only 5 classes, way less than the authors of the study I'm sure), is that aerobic exercise is very efficient, much more ATP is produced. Anaerobic exercise, however, is VERY inefficient. Less ATP is produced, and requires more glucose to produce energy.

I hope I didn't get that backwards. It is quite late here, and I'm having trouble thinking straight, however, I can't fall asleep.

re: Bernstein
David Mendosa
Wednesday, January 16, 2008 at 02:21 PM

Dear Christopher,

Sorry, but I am not the one to ask. I hope that other readers will chime in.

David

exercise is key!
joanne rinker
Thursday, January 17, 2008 at 03:06 PM

I am a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator. I always encourage my patients to have a great combo of healthy eating habits as well as healthy exercise habits. You are right that 45 minutes of exercise just 3 days a week can go a long way. There are lots of ways that we can also get in some extra steps to improve our cardio health EVERYDAY. Like taking the stairs, parking your car in the very last parking space, not using the stairs to pile up what needs to go up (just go up and do it now!), walking to the post office or library if they are close enough, etc, etc.
I am a diabetes coach and these and other little tips can go a long way!
Joanne Rinker MS, RD, CDE, LDN
jrinker@fit4d.com
fit4d.com

re: exercise is key!
David Mendosa
Thursday, January 17, 2008 at 05:18 PM

Dear Joanne,

That is excellent advice. I follow that myself. I make a point of running up the steps even when I am walking the rest of the way.

Best regards,

David

re: re: exercise is key!
joanne rinker
Friday, January 18, 2008 at 07:19 AM

David, that is great. It is the little things that make such a big difference. Keep it up!!
Joanne
jrinker@fit4d.com
fit4d.com

Do Breathing Exercises of Swami RamDev of India
pramod
Thursday, January 24, 2008 at 11:53 AM
A lot of Diabetes Patents controlling Diabetes without medicines by doing breathing Exercises (Anulom- Bilom & Kapal Bhati Pranayams )taught by Swami RamDev of India. It is better than any other Exercises.It prevents diabetes complications also.