Taking charge of your diabetes through exercise can give you a younger look and feel not to mention …… a younger attitude!

As you read this message, remember this: You don’t pay the price to improve your health, you reap the benefits of being healthy!

Treatment of diabetes has gone through dramatic changes in the past two decades. Previously, exercise was often overlooked as a “cornerstone" in its treatment as it was difficult to maintain blood sugar levels with the additional variability introduced by physical activity, especially for individuals with type 1 diabetes.

However, with blood glucose meters now being readily available and affordable, exercise can be done safely and without fear of severely upsetting an often delicate glucose balance.

The usual health benefits of exercise apply to individuals with diabetes as well, perhaps even more than normal.

Much of what we attribute to the aging process really results from disuse (for example, muscle atrophy, or loss of flexibility in joints). Diabetes, especially when blood sugars are poorly controlled, accelerates the normal aging process, as well as certain disease processes such as heart disease.

Thus, regular exercise can help slow aging and reduce long term complications associated with poor blood sugar control and diabetes.

These diabetes-related benefits can not be understated! Not only can you enjoy your favorite physical activity, but also you can help your diabetes and health too. In fact, regular exercise is the most important activity you can do to slow the aging process, manage your blood sugars, and reduce your risk of diabetic complications.

Ask your doctor about diabetes and have your blood sugar checked several times a year.