Nordic Walking against Diabetes
Performing physical exercise significantly improves the quality of life of people who suffer from this disease. As it is a gentle aerobic resistance physical activity, it can be practiced by anyone, always under professional supervision (medical and sports). By reducing plasma glucose, due to the increase in muscle consumption in movement (during and after exercise), insulin sensitivity improves, also translating into an improvement in diabetes control and as long as the exercise is correctly planned. and controlled.
With prolonged practice of Nordic walking, the body decreases insulin secretion and this facilitates the liver's production of glucose, which will pass into the blood to be used by the muscle from there. Therefore, diabetic people must adapt by reducing the dose of insulin, to achieve the same effect, thus avoiding hypoglycemia.
The regular practice of Nordic Walking will only bring positive effects that translate into a decrease in: blood glucose during and after exercise, basal and postprandial insulinemia, and the need to take medications.
As well as an improvement in: insulin sensitivity, glycosylated hemoglobin levels, blood pressure, weight reduction through diet, lipid profile (triglycerides; HDL, LDL - cholesterol), cardiovascular function and general muscle tone.
Risks and precautions
All people with diabetes can practice Nordic Walking, without forgetting that uncontrolled diabetes and the practice of physical exercise without control and medical supervision carry severe threats to life. The doctor will be the one who will determine if you should stop
The most common risk is hypoglycemia, but we must not ignore the possibility of foot injuries, or cardiovascular injuries (arrhythmias, angina, heart failure) and vitreous hemorrhage or retinal detachment in diabetics with severe retinopathy.
Hypoglycemia must be prevented, so we will have to take into account:
In patients treated with insulin, the following will also be sought:
a) Schedule exercise avoiding times that coincide with the maximum insulin effect.
b) Inject insulin into the abdominal area and avoid those that participate most actively in exercise.
c) Assess the need to reduce (2-4 IU) the dose administered before intense exercise.
d) Schedule a greater number of capillary blood glucose self-tests.
It must be taken into account that the effect of exercise, intense or prolonged, on glucose metabolism can be maintained for several hours and cause late and nocturnal hypoglycemia, so it would be prudent to indicate capillary blood glucose analysis on that day before lie down.
Nutrition and sports performance
General sports nutrition strategies are similar regardless of whether you have diabetes. Managing diabetes to optimize sports performance requires experimentation through trial and error, with different combinations of foods and drinks, before, during and after exercise.
Regular monitoring of blood glucose concentrations (glycemia) and management through trial and error (under medical supervision) are necessary to adjust insulin requirements and individual nutrition for exercise. It is not possible to provide a set of guidelines that will suit all people with diabetes.
Performing physical exercise and doing it by practicing Nordic Walking is the best way to prevent and treat diabetes, but it is obvious that a series of precautions must be kept in mind to avoid unnecessary risks.
People with diabetes should know that during exercise there is an increase in fuel consumption by the muscle. In the first 30 minutes the muscle consumes glucose from its glycogen stores (stored glucose). Once these deposits are exhausted, it begins to consume glucose from the blood. A continuous supply is then established from the liver, which also produces glucose, to the blood and from the blood to the muscle. If exercise is prolonged, fuel is obtained from fats.
When faced with prolonged exercise, the body decreases insulin secretion. This phenomenon facilitates hepatic glucose production; That is, the contribution of glucose from the liver to the blood and the use of this sugar by the muscle. People with diabetes also have to adapt by reducing the dose of insulin to achieve the same effect.
Physical activity, Nordic Walking and diabetes make up an excellent combination as long as the appropriate precautions are taken.
Fuente: https://quierocuidarme.dkv.es