Practitioners with diabetes are becoming increasingly frequent in the exercise rooms of gyms, following the increased prevalence of this metabolic disease and the recognition of the benefits of exercise.

               There are two types of diabetes (type I and II). In type I diabetes, exercise is more useful in controlling associated risk factors than in regressing the disease. For type II diabetes, exercise is beneficial in primary prevention and disease control. In addition to the overall health and fitness gains associated with regular exercise, diabetics specifically benefit from reduced weight and abdominal fat, increased insulin sensitivity, improved lytic profile and reduced blood pressure.

               Aerobic exercise involving large muscle groups is considered best suited to increase insulin sensitivity and increased cell membrane permeability to glucose even without insulin, and gains occur even if aerobic fitness is not increased in a single session.

               Changes in one's daily life resulting from diabetes interfere with one's emotional stability. Exercise may increase patients' perception of health and psychological well-being.

Good training!

Text by Diogo Lopes