Exercises:

Aerobic exercise increases your heart rate, works your muscles, and raises your breathing rate. For most people, it's best to aim for a total of about 30 minutes a day, at least 5 days a week. If you haven't been very active recently, you can start out with 5 or 10 minutes a day and work up to more time each week. If you're trying to lose weight, you may want to exercise more than 30 minutes a day.

Good Types of Physical Activity for People With Diabetes:

Walking vigorously, hiking, climbing stairs, swimming, aerobics, dancing, bicycling, skating, skiing, tennis, basketball, volleyball, or other sports, are just some examples of physical activity that will work your large muscles, increase your heart rate, and make you breathe harder - all important goals for your fitness.

In addition, strength training exercises with hand weights, elastic bands, or weight machines can help you build muscle. Stretching helps to make you flexible and prevent soreness and injury after exercise.

 

Did You Know?

Physical activity is a great way to meet people and improve your health. Your doctor can tell you about the kinds of exercises that are good for you.

 

How Often Should You Exercise?

You should exercise at least 30 minutes (working your way up to 45 minutes) on 5 or more days of the week.

 

Health Tip #:005 Developing a Healthy Sleep Pattern There are many things a person does before bed or to their sleeping environment that can affect their sleep pattern. The average person requires approximately 8 hours of sleep each night. You should try to go to bed and wake up the same time each day. You should also avoid going to bed hungry, but avoid any products that can act as stimulants and keep you awake (i.e. coffee, tea, soda and chocolate should be avoided). You should also avoid strenuous exercise before bedtime. Finally, you should avoid bright lights in and around your bedroom before bed. Dimmer switches, energy efficient bulbs, and turning off your television and computer will help with this problem. We hope these helpful tips will put you on your way to a better night's sleep. Pleasant dreams from all of us at Better Living Now!

Better Living Now is a proud supporter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation:

© 2007 by Vanderbilt University

Reference: American Diabetes Association:

Reference: American Diabetes Association:

There are 23.6 million children and adults in the US with diabetes -- 5.7 million people are undiagnosed and 57 million have a condition called pre-diabetes.

Take this test to see if you are at risk for having or developing type 2 diabetes.