burning calories

september 98

Not a week goes by that we don’t receive two or three e-mails asking us about exercise, why one should exercise, and specifically which exercises burn the most calories. Your health care team tells you to get more exercise and here on these pages, we’ve discussed the many ways to exercise. You’ve tired it, but you hate it or don’t have the time and/or energy to exercise with all of the things you must do daily just to maintain life and home. Perhaps, it’s time to focus back on the reasons for exercising when you have diabetes. First, before you start any exercise program, discuss your plans with your doctor or diabetes educator so that any necessary insulin and/or medications can be adjusted, if necessary, for your increased physical activity. Exercise is good for your diabetes, your general health, your heart, your mood, and your confidence. We’re not talking strenuous aerobics, using a cross-country ski machine, or working out at a health club here, just a few minutes of increased physical activity rather than watching TV and thinking about exercising. You hardly have to break into a sweat. Ridiculous? Not at all; the latest studies show major health benefits from exercise so modest that it doesn’t even feel like a "workout." Besides significantly decreasing insulin resistance, making it easier to control your blood sugar levels with less insulin and/or medications, even modest exercise can also reduce blood pressure and cholesterol, reducing risk of cardiovascular disease. Other benefits include better weight control, increased sexual desire and pleasure, better memory, less risk of colds, and better sleep and less insomnia. Moderate exercise has also been proven to help replace the nicotine high of smoking, making it easier to cut down or stop smoking. Since exercise moves major joints through their full range of motion, exercise can be beneficial in the management of arthritis. Adding Physical Activity to Your Daily Life Take a walk--as little as 20 minutes a day of brisk walking adds up at week’s end. Walking can keep blood sugar levels under better control and helps prevent bone-thinning osteoporosis Add walking downstairs and park your car a few blocks away from the mall, church, office, or friends’ home. When you’re ready, try walking up stairs; go only half way at first and work up to climbing all the way. Take a walk before lunch; you’ll eat less and will suffer less from mid-afternoon "slump." Keep a pair of walking shoes at work for walks at lunch or break time. Instead of meeting the gang for coffee and doughnuts, make a date to take walks, go for a bike ride, or go dancing. What else can you do? Walk a little more briskly when shopping; stretch, bend, and lift a little more when doing work around the house or apartment. Washing floors, vigorous sweeping and vacuuming, and other household chores can add up quickly (see chart below). Play with your child, grandchild, or pet. If you’re a grandparent, offer to walk the baby. Pushing the little one in a stroller is a great exercise and allows you to "show off" your "little angel." Take an older child to the park and push them on the swings and merry-go-round. Play a game of tag. Start out slowly and increase your activity as your body adjusts. It takes about eight weeks to start feeling the physical and emotional changes of exercise, longer if weight loss is your goal. Only do things that are fun; find a buddy and exercise together. Vary your exercise so you don’t get bored. Moderate exercise will make you feel better able to cope with tension and stress. It creates self-confidence which boosts self-esteem. Endorphins released by exercise have an antidepressant effect If you have diabetes, always test your blood before and after any exercise. For most, the safe pre-exercise blood glucose range is from 100 to 250 mg/dl. If yours is less, have a snack to raise it before exercising. If it’s between 100 and 150 mg/dl, test during exercise and be prepared with glucose tablets or a 15 gram carbohydrate snack to treat hypoglycemia. Some physicians tell people with type 2 diabetes not to exercise with a blood glucose level over 200. Check with your health care team for their recommendation. If you have type 1 diabetes and your blood glucose level is higher than 250 mg/dl and you have moderate or high levels of ketones in your urine, don’t exercise until your gotten your readings down near normal. Call your doctor if your ketone levels remain high. With either type of diabetes, don’t exercise if your blood glucose is greater than 300 mg/dl. Contact your physician and make sure it’s down before you do even moderate exercise. If you use insulin, don’t exercise when your insulin is peaking; a muscle exercising absorbs insulin faster than muscle at rest. Ideally, wait an hour to exercise after injecting insulin. Everyone should drink fluids during and after exercise. Calories Used by Daily Activities--Based on a 150-Pound Person* Activity Calories Per 30 Minutes Making beds 70 housework 75 to 125 strolling 105 raking leaves 115 lawn-mowing (power) 125 lawn-mowing (push) 150 to 225 gardening 150 to 225 slow swimming 150 golf, pulling cart 150 golf, carrying clubs 150 to 155 moderate walking 150 ice or roller skating 155 to 240 badminton 175 square dancing 175 bowling 200 tennis, singles 210 to 240 downhill skiing 240 to 300 moderate bicycling 330 running 330 or more *Source: National Exercise for life Institute Keep track of when and how long your exercise, along with your blood glucose control. You’re sure to see a change. And, don’t forget to have fun while you exercise! Exercise Log Date Activity Time Spent BG Before BG After Comments