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Managing Your Type 2 Diabetes With Exercise

Tips for Getting Started With Exercise

Tips For Getting Started With Exercise

Before you begin any type of exercise program, talk to your healthcare provider and decide what exercise routine will work best for you. You may have specific medical conditions that would make some types of exercise better for you than others. Here are some tips to keep in mind that you can discuss with your healthcare provider:

  • Know what's safe. Find out which types of exercise are safe for you to do. Talk to your healthcare provider to help you decide which exercise routine will work best for you as a person with type 2 diabetes. They may make specific recommendations based on the condition of your heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, feet and nervous system
  • Make a plan and set realistic goals. Choose which type of exercise you will do and create an exercise plan. Remember, start slowly and set small goals for yourself in the beginning. Once you reach those goals, you can increase how long you exercise or the number of days a week you exercise
  • Know how your exercise affects your blood sugar. Exercise can typically cause low blood sugar in people taking certain oral diabetes medications or insulin to treat their type 2 diabetes, but the stress of exercise can sometimes cause high blood sugar. Talk to your healthcare provider to find out if your medication can cause low or high blood sugar and how to be prepared in case it happens
  • Drink water and have snacks handy. Plan to have plenty of water before, during and after you exercise. Have a healthy snack during exercise to keep you energized
  • Let people know you have type 2 diabetes. Wear a medical ID bracelet, necklace or tag to protect yourself in case of emergency
  • Track your progress. Writing down what exercise you've done each day can really help you see how far you've come. It can show you your progress over time and reinforce your commitment to managing your type 2 diabetes

Now that you have these exercise tips in mind, it's time to talk to your healthcare provider and decide what type of exercise will work best for you.

Next: Cardio Exercise
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