6 Great Exercises for People With Diabetes

If you have diabetes and don’t have an exercise routine in place, start with walking. “Walking is easy for people to do,” Colberg says, “All you need is a good pair of shoes and somewhere to go. Walking is probably one of the most prescribed activities for people with type 2 diabetes.” Brisk walking, done at a pace that raises the heart rate, is considered a moderate-intensity exercise, according to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Walking at a brisk clip 30 minutes per day five days per week will help you reach the recommended goal of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise.

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Tai chi is an ancient Chinese tradition. Participants flow through a series of movements performed in a slow and relaxed manner along with deep breathing, according to the Mayo Clinic. A meta-analysis in the Journal of Diabetes Research concluded that tai chi is an effective way for people with type 2 diabetes to manage their blood glucose and A1C levels. Tai chi is ideal for people with diabetes because it provides fitness and stress reduction in one.

Tai chi also improves balance and may reduce nerve damage or neuropathy, which is a common complication among people with diabetes whose blood sugar isn’t well managed — though the latter benefit remains unproven, says Colberg. (One study looked at the effect of tai chi on people who have peripheral neuropathy (PN), or nerve damage that can be caused by chronically high blood sugar. Researchers found that the exercise did not cure PN, but it did improve balance, flexibility, and strength).

Still, Colberg emphasizes that working on your balance daily is a critical component of staying on your feet as you age and living well and independently throughout your lifetime. “If you don’t do tai chi, incorporate some other balance exercises into your weekly routine to reduce your risk of falling,” says Colberg.

“I can’t say enough about the benefits of weight training, not just for people with diabetes but for everyone,” Colberg says. Weight training builds muscle mass, important for those with type 2 diabetes. “If you lose muscle mass, you have a lot harder time maintaining your blood sugar,” she says.

Plan for resistance exercise or weight training at least twice a week as part of your diabetes management plan, recommends the HHS. Regardless of your experience, you can safely add resistance exercise into your routine, according to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). This includes exercise done with free weights, machines, or bands using a resistance that feels challenging; focus on doing two to three sets of 8 to 12 repetitions of each exercise, the ACSM recommends.

Say om: Like tai chi, research shows that if you have diabetes, yoga can help reduce stress and manage the condition, according to a review of research. “When stress levels go higher, so do your blood sugar levels,” says Colberg.

One of the advantages of yoga as an exercise is that you can do it as often as you like. “The more the better,” she says. A study in the Journal of Physical Activity & Health concluded that exercise helps lessen depressive symptoms in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Swimming is another aerobic exercise — and an ideal one for people with type 2 diabetes because it doesn’t put pressure on your joints. “Being buoyed by the water is less stressful on your body compared to walking or jogging,” Colberg says. Type 2 diabetes can lead to foot complications, including neuropathy, says the American Diabetes Association. Because neuropathy can lead to loss of feeling in the foot, you can purchase water shoes to protect your feet in the pool.

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Bicycling is also a form of aerobic exercise, says the HHS, one that makes your heart stronger and your lungs function better, and is a calorie burner to boot. Just riding a few times per week as a casual mode of transportation was found to reduce the risk of obesity, high blood pressure, and triglyceride levels, according to a study.

To cycle, you don’t even need to leave your house: A stationary bike can be helpful because you can do it inside, no matter the weather.