Everywhere you turn these days, it seems like someone is talking about all the different things you need to do to take care of your body. With so much attention given to diabetes and other health problems in the United States today, it’s not hard to see why there is so much talking of this kind.]]>
Are you one of the 39% of adults with type 2 diabetes who is physically active? If so, congratulations! If not, now is the time to get active! Starting a regular habit of aerobic exercise can be the first step you take in gaining better control of your blood glucose levels.]]>
If you are a woman and have a family or personal history of pre diabetes, you are at risk for gestational diabetes. This is a type of diabetes that usually occurs during the second trimester of pregnancy, and almost always goes away after the baby is born. However, people who have had gestational diabetes are at a higher risk for type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke for the rest of their lives. This is why it is so important for researchers to look for ways to help women avoid this serious condition. Researchers at the MedStar Health Research Institute in Hyattsville, MD, looked at 300 mothers who had gestational diabetes during their pregnancies, and about 1,200 mothers who didn’t, for a period of six years. They divided the women into three study groups: Group 1 began a cardio exercise plan Group 2 took metformin, a common diabetes medicine Group 2 took a placebo The women had their blood glucose levels checked two times a year for the entire six-year study. The researchers found that those who had gestational diabetes were almost twice as likely to get type 2 diabetes, but that both exercise and metformin helped them avoid it. [...]]]>
If you don’t enjoy physical activity, you’re not alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), less than half of all Americans meet their Physical Activity Guidelines. Researchers have tried for decades to find out why Americans tend to avoid exercise. They found that there are many practical reasons, including chronic pain, lack of access to childcare, and safety concerns about working out in dangerous areas. But there are also mental and emotional reasons people don’t stick to exercise plans. One of the biggest factors is enjoyment. If you don’t feel satisfied after exercising, research shows that you won’t keep doing it. With this in mind, researchers at Utrecht University in the Netherlands looked at about 400 physically active men and women to see why they enjoyed exercise. They wanted to know if mindfulness, or the practice of paying close attention to the present moment, played a role. The subjects filled out an online survey to answer questions about their emotional experience during physical activity, and how this helped them stick to it. The results of the survey showed that those who were mindful when they exercised were most satisfied with the experience. While more research is needed to [...]]]>
As you get older, your bones and muscles may not be as strong as they used to be. Getting around and doing daily tasks becomes much harder. So, meeting the suggested 150 minutes of exercise each week suggested by The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans seem out of reach for many older adults. However, a recent study published in the?Journal of the American Heart Association?has found that for older adults who have trouble being mobile, heart health benefits can still be gained from small amounts of physical activity. The Lifestyles Interventions and Independence for Elders Study looked at over 1,000 adults aged 74 to 84 who had trouble moving around. The researchers checked the subjects for heart disease risk by looking at factors such as age, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. They checked how active the subjects were by having them wear devices called accelerometers. These devices measured the level of exercise by counts per minute. The researchers divided the results into three groups: Inactive: 99 counts or less per minute Light daily tasks (like slow walking or light housekeeping): 100 to 499 per minute Moderate exercise: over 500 counts per minute The older adults with no history of heart [...]]]>
People who struggle with obesity (BMI over 30) are often told to eat less and get more physical activity to achieve a healthy weight. But according to researchers at the New York Obesity Nutrition Research Center at Columbia University Medical Center, these lifestyle changes do not help 80% to 95% of obese people. They wrote an article for The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology stating that taking in fewer calories tends to make obese people gain even more weight over the long term. For these people, the body tends to do as much as it can to stay the same weight, and lifestyle changes are not enough to stop this process. The researchers wrote that even people who have maintained weight loss after being obese do not have the same biology as people who were never obese. They will always have a higher risk of weight gain than people who are overweight or normal weight. They called this “obesity in remission,” meaning that obesity cannot be cured, but is usually just avoided for a short period of time. There are a few effective options for obese people, however. They are: Weight loss (bariatric) surgery Anti-obesity medicines Intra-abdominal vagal nerve blocking [...]]]>
You may be aware that staying active is a key part of a heart healthy lifestyle. Exercise can strengthen your heart muscle, help you maintain a healthy weight, and improve energy levels. A study recently published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has even found that a lack of exercise raises your risk of death more than obesity.]]>
Whether or not you have diabetes, physical activity is a very important part of a healthy lifestyle. Regular exercise can improve your mood and sleep quality, give you energy, and lower your risk for serious conditions. But many people aren’t sure exactly how much physical activity to get every day, or how hard the workouts should be. The good news is that more and more studies are showing the benefits of simple daily walks. Read on to find out more about the latest research into exercise for people who have type 2 diabetes.]]>
Do these goals sound familiar to you? "I’m going to exercise more often," "I want to try to eat healthier," "I’m never going to eat sugar again!" The problem with these types of goals is that they’re too broad and aren’t realistic. ]]>