Benefits of Diet & Exercise for Type II Diabetes

Type II Diabetes is caused by obesity, poor diet and fitness habits or family history. Daily exercise and a healthy diet benefit diabetics by promoting overall health through weight control, sugar maintenance, increased circulation and neurological health.

Significance

• Exercise promotes muscle growth and decreases high sugar levels by converting stored sugar in the bloodstream into energy needed for active muscle exertion, allowing levels to stay within the normal range.

Function

• Aerobic exercises require movement of the limbs, which increases blood circulation throughout the body so that nerve fibers, blood vessels and cells receive oxygen needed for the prevention or improvement of diabetic neuropathy conditions.

Benefits

• High-fiber diets are low in calories and fat content. Foods such as whole grains, corn, beans, vegetables and fruit pass easily through the digestive system and reduce caloric intake. Fitness further reduces the amount of stored calories within the body, turning fat into muscle, so that weight loss can occur and normal body mass can be maintained.

Effects

• Counting carbohydrates for a healthy intake helps Type II diabetics control the amount of sugar that enters the bloodstream through food consumption. Exercise works to stimulate insulin sensitivity needed for the breakdown of these sugars so that high levels of glucose do not accumulate to cause free radical damage to cells and organs.

Considerations

• Physical activity releases chemical endorphins that satiate sugar cravings by suppressing the appetite, and enhance feelings of happiness that combat depression and anxiety symptoms of Type II Diabetes. This provides diabetics with more control over their diet and caloric intake, so that low-calorie, low-fat meal plans can support and stimulate daily exercise through nutrients, vitamins and minerals provided by a healthy diet.