Feets, Don't Fail Me Now Because I Have to Exercise.

Nerve damage (neuropathy) to the feet is problem with many diabetics, one of the many joys of this condition.  Assuming your feet are fine, exercise is a way to control or even eliminate your type 2 symptoms, but there is a catch, a pretty big one. 

But first,

My Numbers:

• Fasting Blood Glucose Level:  101 mg/dl.
• Weight:  188ish lbs. 
• Exercise:  45 minute bike ride, and starting tomorrow, work in some high intensity interval training.  See more below.
• Mood:  7.0  It's a Monday.

My Menu:

• Breakfast:  Morning fruit medley, as per usual, and a bowl of baked oatmeal, the Parrish Inn Version.  Man, very good, but I used blueberries, which is also very Michigan. The chef does say to be creative. 
• Lunch:  Leftovers from the weekend, a but of this and that. 
• Dinner:  More leftovers from the weekend.  Easy to make and clean up.
• Snacks: None. Busy day.

Diabetics and Their Feet

I was going to be a bit flip about this, that if nothing else being a diabetic is a good reason to get a pedicure. Neuropath, nerve damage caused by the corrosive nature of uncontrolled diabetes,  is a serious condition that once started often cascades into series of hard to control infections, amputations and death, all good things to avoid. The podiatrist here talks about avoiding these things.



Still a pedicure does feel good, regardless of your situation.

Exercise:  It's Not as Bad as You Think

A Professor of Exercise Medicine, Greg Wells,  says exercise alone can eliminate the symptoms of type 2 diabetes.  There is a catch.  It takes an average of six hours a day of physical activities.  Heck of a catch, eh?

The article is here. 

Before you click this off as ridiculous, bear in mind that there are two definitions of physical activity involved here. 

One is the habitual physical activity, the physical activities we do everyday, walk around the mall shopping, doing housework, gardening, kids playing on the playground, routine movement.  Just moving around is good for young and old alike.

The second is a more structure physical activity, both aerobic and strength training in some form. What exactly doesn't really seem to matter, says Prof. Wells, just do something, mix it up, keep it interesting.

So, broken down that way, one hour a day of physical movement does not seem so bad, does it?

Professor Wells mentions a very sad statistic.  A 10 year old kid diagnosed as a  type 2 diabetic at age ten will on average live 19 years less than a healthy kid.  His approach to solving the problem is a simple one, good diet and exercise. 

A good diet and exercise he says is also good for "obesity, cystic fibrosis, inflammatory diseases like arthritis, maybe even cancer. Almost every psychological disease: ADHD, Alzheimer’s, anxiety, depression."  Not bad for a simple solution.

There is also this from the New York Times.  The exercise time required may be cut by two thirds if you do it the right way with High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT).  It's simpler than it sounds.  If I am riding my bike, pump furiously for one minute, then slow it down for one minute and keep repeating this for 20 minutes. 

The whole video on this is here. Sorry, I can't embed this one.