why exercise in diabetes?

[Imotep]

Most doctors advise exercise hand in hand with diet to control the progression of type 2 diabetes. While it looks
good on paper, based on actual physiology of exercise and pathology of diabetes whether type 1 or 2 is not that easy to do and could be dangerous due to occurrence of hypoglycemia during or after exercise. I am not a doctor but reading the physiology of exercise which got very interested when my doctor announced that I am now a bona fide
type 2 diabetic, i question the effectiveness of more intensive or vigorous exercises. As I understand it, type 2 diabetic
which is adult onset type, the body does not respond to the insulin being produced by the pancreas or the pancrease is not producing enough insulin. According to the medical community, exercise will decrease blood glucose levels and
improves sensitivity of the body to insulin. The problem with this dictum is that exercise dictates how glucose or fuel the body will continue to be produced: the more we exercise, the more glucose is poroduced. But in diabetes, the muscles cannot use the glucose due to lack of insulin or lack of sensitivity to insulin. My question: so why continue to produce high amounts of glucose by doing exercise when the body cannot use it and end up in the blood stream causing a disease called diabetes?

[Zoelula]

We've all been taught that exercise is important, though I have certainly heard more what Imotep is saying, that any moderate exercise such as waitressing certainly is is good. I think though, that the points Imotep makes re logical. I certainly don't know the answer either, but I'm wondering if you can put it to someone who is more of an expert in the physiology of diabetes and exercise and then share the results here?

[Imotep]

I did a lot of reading about exercise and diabetes and this is what I found:" the mechanism by which training decreases utilization of blood glucose are not well understood." Reference: Exercises hypoglycemia in non-diabetic subjects by Jf. Burn,M. Dumortier, C.Fedoa, J Mercer. Insulin tranports glucose to the muscle cells for utilization. You can exercise all you want but if insulin is not present in the recipe then the whole thing is an exercise in futility. The medical community advises physical activity
such as walking, mowing the lawn, dancing, gardening, etc which is better than just sitting in front of the television and becoming fat. So walking around from table to table and in and out of the kitchen is not a physical activity? You say:" 30 mins. on a treadmill or recumbent  bike each day or MOST days of your week will help to lower your bg by having your body use the extra glucose floating around in the system." This
is a major misconception. Because the amount of glucose in the muscles have already been depleted by exercise that's why diabetics go into hypoglycemia. and in the absence of insulin cannot be replenished right away. What makes the body more sensitive to insulin because of exercise is only said but not really proven.

[missy569]

You need 30 mins of continual cardiovascular exercise - being a waiter (I was a waitress) doesn't begin to do that for you. 30 mins on a treadmill or recumberant bike each day or MOST days of your week will help to lower your bg by having your body use the extra glucose floating around in your system.

I know, at least for me, if I DON'T exercise, my bg numbers ARE higher.

[Imotep]

According to Mayoclinic.com: " exercise or physical activity moves sugar from your blood into your cells." the more active you are, the lower your blood sugar level." But they forgot something with this assumption- insulin. This assumption only works if insulin is in order or the body has the right sensitivity to it. I am a waiter and I am on my feet all day. How much more exercise do I need?

[caregiver222]

Moderate exercise is helpful and necessary to prevent the cascade of horrible events that can take place secondary to diabetes.

It doesn't just "look good on paper". It is the appropriate and correct suggestion.

We could discuss "dictums" and space aliens and the price of tea in China, and asccomplish little but degrade the environment through excess production of hot air.

As for "excessive exercise", that is another issue.