Working together with your Doctor

On a very regular basis, new information gets published on the importance of exercise for promoting health. Exercise usually lowers blood glucose, and it helps your body's insulin work better. And if you're overweight, exercise can help you lose weight.

Exercise can also strengthen your heart, improve your blood circulation, promote brain health, decrease your blood pressure, may improve your blood lipids - and can lower stress.

In fact, the right exercise program can not only help you control your diabetes - it can help you look and feel better, too.

Finding the exercise program that's right for you.

Your first step is to check with your doctor or diabetes-care team about the exercise program that's right for you. When you check with your healthcare team first, you'll accomplish two things:

you can be sure that your exercise plan is based on your health and your body's needs
you'll gain confidence that exercise will benefit you and help you achieve your goals

Your doctor will check some or all of the following, depending on your situation:

blood pressure
blood fat levels
glycosylated hemoglobin levels (also known as hemoglobinA_1c or HbA_1c)
health of your cardiovascular, circulatory, and nervous systems
kidney and liver function
eyes
feet

Before you start to exercise, be sure to ask your doctor or diabetes-care team about any adjustments that might be needed in your food and medication. Over time, as you overall level improves, make sure and talk to your diabetes-care team about your future plans for exercise, meals, and medication.