Diabetes, Exercise and the Brain

Dr. C,

Excellent blog!  There were so many points that resonated with me.  Particularly, this comment: The goal is to have diabetes management fit into your activities rather than having your activities arranged around diabetes.

When I was living in Boston, I was running about 60 miles a week. I decided to go to the best place for diabetes, Joslin Center.  When I met with the doctor, he told me I should consider walking not running.  Statistically walking showed tighter blood sugar control then running.  But the problem was I was not a walker, I was a runner and I thought it was completely short sighted of him to stuff me into a box!  So I politely told him when he lost 30 lbs and drank only one cup of coffee in the morning, then we could talk! This doctor was all about text book ideas and not my lifestyle.  

The trick is figuring out how to manage diabetes while doing what you love, but there is nothing that says you can't, it's just putting the jigsaw puzzle together correctly! And many people are looking for what you and Anna have written here!  Kudos to both of you!

How apropos, I'm am sitting at my desk having just finished my 5 miles run for the day!   Tomorrow 6 miles plus pick ups, in the DC heat no less!

Thanks,

Ann

Thank you for this! My son has been working diligently on an exercise regime this summer, and has found that he enjoys hard walking/hiking on trails with a friend in a local park for at least an hour at a time. We've found that he feels better -- typically -- when he's exercised for the day.

What has been interesting is how heat can affect his BG levels, particularly if it is sunny.

He's also been taking our dog with him on most occasions, hoping that the pup will "detect" if his BG level slips, but so far no luck :)!