Diabetes and lack of activity
- Whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, physical activity is necessary for its care - just like a balanced diet. By mobilizing the whole of the body, physical activity – and sport in particular – makes it possible to improve the control of the disease.
- Regular physical activity reduces the need for insulin, limits blood sugar levels, reduces overweight and helps to fight effectively against pathologies associated with diabetes - hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, cardiovascular disorders...
Better insulin sensitivity
- Physical activity makes the body more sensitive to insulin, the hormone that naturally lowers blood sugar levels.
- In people with type 2 diabetes, insulin becomes less and less effective. Physical activity can partly restore the body's sensitivity to insulin: sugar penetrates better into the cells despite the lack of insulin.
- Physical activity increases the body's consumption of glucose: during a sports session, a walk, an hour of gardening, the muscles consume glucose, thus lowering its level in the blood.
- In the case of type 1 diabetes, activity often reduces insulin doses.
- The key, in all cases: better natural blood sugar regulation, up to several hours after the session.
glycemic balance
- As a result, the whole glycemic balance is improved by physical activity.
- Regular physical activity helps lower glycated hemoglobin levels, considered the best marker for monitoring diabetes. Thus, the risk of complications and cardiovascular accidents decreases!
Cardiovascular
- Physical activity prevents associated cardiovascular risk factors.
- Diabetes damages blood vessels, increases the risk of cardiovascular accidents. But regular physical activity can counteract these effects, preserving the health of blood vessels: better oxygenation of tissues, preservation of the inner wall of vessels, reduction of oxidative stress, development of new blood capillaries, reduction of blood viscosity...
psychological
- All of these benefits, associated with each other, have important repercussions on the psychology of people with diabetes. Thanks to regular physical activity, we accept the disease better, we enter into a logic of challenge in the face of it.
- Activity has a strong impact on self-esteem, which it gradually improves. It also causes a significant reduction in stress.
- Finally, it promotes social integration when practiced collectively..
