Does exercising offer more than fitness in Type 2 Diabetes?

If you thought exercising is only going to help you get and stay fit while you struggle keeping blood sugar or Type 2 Diabetes in control, the recently conducted research study by the researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas suggest exercising may benefit you more.

The researchers after having taken a look at the health records from people with Type 2 diabetes found that people who have been exercising have lower body fat, smaller waist size and better and controlled blood sugar in comparison to inactive people. The effects were reported to be positive irrespective of the fact whether they involved themselves in aerobic exercises, resistance training or a combination of both. Interestingly, the effects were found positive even if they did not record of any cardiorespiratory (heart and lung) fitness.

According to Dr Jarett Berry, co-author and associate professor of Internal Medicine and Clinical Sciences at UT Southwestern, it has been observed that exercise has the power to improve diabetes control regardless of improvement in exercise capacity.

In the study published on June 17, 2015 in Diabetes Care journal, about 30 percent participants who exercised were considered as non-responders. The researchers revealed that these people cannot improve their cardiorespiratory fitness in spite of exercising regularly.

According to Dr Berry, there is a need to broaden the understanding of what it exactly means to respond to exercise training. This is with reference to the fact that some of the diabetics who exercised did not have improvements in the respect to their cardiorespiratory fitness but showed the signs of gaining of health benefits. This suggested that the definition of non-responder is too narrow and needs to be re-looked at.

The exercise programs for the Type 2 Diabetics should track improvements in blood sugar levels, body fat and waist size.

Source: News Release, UT Southwestern Medical Center, June 17, 2015

Why should Diabetics choose their footwear carefully?

It is very essential to choose the proper footwear for every diabetic as well as for people with any kind foot deformities or problems. A diabetic foot is difficult to manage and may develop health problems due to lack of insulin production.

Diabetic foot problems may occur due to nerve damages in the feet that may lead to peripheral neuropathy (damage to nerves of the peripheral nervous system). It may also make the body unable to heal owing to poor blood circulation or ischemia. This could result in making the person less likely to feel minor cuts, blisters or even the pressure sores. This could lead to development of gangrene or ulcers and require amputation if the injuries are left untreated.

Choose the footwear that fits you best!

Along with daily foot care, wearing proper and fitting footwear is an equal must for all diabetics. Cotton sports socks with roomy shoes is ideal for diabetic feet.

Focus on the following points before getting a pair of therapeutic footwear for yourself.

• Get your feet measured each time while buying new shoes since the foot size and shape changes over time. 

• Get well-fitting shoes at the time of purchase. Feel the inside of the shoes with your hands for stiff or scratchy seams, or any rigid well-defined structure.

• Always wear well-fitting shoes that are supportive with low heels (less than 5 cm high) and does not rub or pinch to avoid increased pressure on the ball of the foot. 

• Your shoes should not have any ridges, sharp points or any potentially harmful pressure points. The footwear should have proper ankle support.

• Shoes should be well-cushioned with ample room for toes and should have space to wiggle all of your toes.

• Avoid wearing pointed-toe heels, sandals and worn-out shoes. Sandals that have straps between the toes are unsuitable and may cause irritation.

• Choose rocker-bottom shoes with the sole angled up from the ground at the heel and toe to reduce pressure from the joints and stress off the skin across the feet. 

Ill-fitting footwear may contribute in alleviating problems in your feet. A regular check-up, changing footwear every 3 to 6 months can prevent many problems even before they start.