Q:
What impact does physical activity have on type 2 and prediabetes? How
much and what types of exercise are recommended?
Answer: Physical activity is
crucial for people with type 2 diabetes and prediabetes. It helps lower
blood pressure and boost levels of good HDL cholesterol, which reduce
your risk of heart and blood vessel disease. It lowers blood glucose and
decreases insulin resistance. Also, studies show that exercise not only
helps you lose weight, but it’s critical for maintaining weight loss
as well.
As for what and how much, start with small steps
— literally! Walking is easy. Find time to walk a few times a week for
20 minutes. Work your way up to 30 minutes five times a week. You need
to find physical activities that you enjoy, since you need to
incorporate them into your life permanently. Using weights and
resistance training can be a good idea too. The higher the percentage of
muscle and the lower the percentage of fat in your body, the better
your insulin sensitivity.