diabetes and lowering blood sugar

[anniehall]

I'm not sure if this is the right forum to post this question. I have a new client that has Diabetes. She is slightly overweight and her goals are to lose weight, gain more energy (which will help when she starts exercising) and lower blood sugar. Does exercise improve this or is it only diet?

[galya]

Absolutely, exercise improves insulin sensitivity, which is what you are looking for. I would ask about the doctor's guidelines as well as far as exercise goes for her type diabetes.

here is an interesting lecture about insulin:
http://www.mercola.com/2001/jul/14/insulin.htm

here are some articles and studies about insulin and exercise:
http://www.diabetesliving.com/manage/exernew.htm

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articl...26/ai_98880510

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...&dopt=Abstract

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q..._uids=15334390

http://www.defeatdiabetes.org/Articl...cise031227.htm

[Chuck276]

Thanks for those links, galya.
Looks like some great info.

[RipStone]

I have been a type one diabetic since I was two years old. I can answer almost anything regrading diabetes and am learning new things everday as far as my diabetes control and fitness/excersise.

First of all, is your client a type 1 or 2 diabetic? This makes a huge difference.

I believe regardless if someone is diabetic or not, their bloodsugar level is lowered while excersise. What your client proabably is striving for is a better hemoglobin A1C blood test. An A1C is a test(you get your blood drawn) that diabetics get anywhere from 2-5 times a year. It's measures the amount of sugar that sticks to your red blood cells over a 90 day period of time. A non-diabetic's A1C is 6.0 or lower. However, a diabetic can have a much higer A1C level(I've heard of some who have had 12.0 readings). In order to lower your A1C, you need to have better blood sugar levels over a sustanied period of time. High A1C levels over time can lead to complications such as blindness. However, if you are under control, there are no reasons a diabetic would suffer complications. Hope this helped and feel free to ask any more questions.

[Lost Dog]

I read some things recently about how cinnamon can help keep blood sugar levels more steady and lower, overall.

http://dietsnutrition.allinfoabout.c...s/cinnamon.htm

It seems like one of those things that just can't hurt. Besides, who doesn't like cinnamon.