DIABETES AND EXERCISE – STAYING SAFE WITH NEUROPATHY
If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, no doubt you’ve been advised to exercise to help
control your diabetes. Many diabetes experts tell patients that they should exercise a total of 150 minutes a week. That exercise time will be effective if you decide to devote 30 minutes five times a week or 50 minutes three times a week. The goal is to keep moving!
However, another important goal is to stay safe while you exercise. Complications from diabetes, especially nerve damage in the legs and feet, make some forms of high impact exercise painful. If you’re experiencing pain, numbness, tingling, “pins and needles” or other sensitivities in your legs or feet, you may have diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
Many long-time diabetes patients develop neuropathy, a condition caused by excess blood glucose that injures the walls of the tiny blood vessels that nourish your nerves, especially in the legs. According to the American Diabetes Association, about half of all people with diabetes have some form of nerve damage, or diabetic neuropathy.
Can you still exercise safely if you have diabetic peripheral neuropathy? Dr. Steven Edelman says “yes”!
Dr. Edelman is the founder of Taking Control of Your Diabetes (TCOYD) and has partnered with Liberty to help you become your
own best advocate through education and support.
In Liberty’s compelling video series Ask The Doctor, Dr. Edelman answers a variety of questions about diabetes, such as how to monitor and control your blood glucose and how to lower your risk of complications from the disease.
Dr. Edelman has some advice about minimizing the impact on feet and legs while exercising safely. You may want to share this video with your family and caregivers.
Click here to watch now.
http://www.libertymedical.com/healthy_living/ask_the_doctor
Posted: November 16, 2010