Physical therapy services
Diabetes Fitness Program
Incorporating exercise into one’s lifestyle is among the first steps people newly diagnosed with diabetes should consider to help control their condition. Therefore, to those who previously led sedentary lives, the prospect of initiating an exercise program can often be intimidating, filled with uncertainties and unfounded fears.
In order to help people with diabetes work through issues associated with starting an exercise regimen, Genesis Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation introduces a new Diabetes Fitness Program that makes exercise safe and fun.
Aerobic exercise increases insulin sensitivity and, along with proper nutrition, helps restore normal glucose metabolism by decreasing body fat. Strength training (aka resistance or weight training) also decreases body fat by raising the metabolism. Its main benefit, however, is increasing glucose uptake by the muscles and enhancing the ability to store glucose. Exercise can mean the difference between medical management and lifestyle management of type 2 diabetes.
The American Diabetes Association recommends that anyone with diabetes have a thorough medical exam to see if there are risks for coronary artery disease and that blood glucose control is adequate before starting an exercise program. The doctor will usually advise exercise if the patient has:
No symptoms of retinopathy, (damage to the blood vessels of the eye), neuropathy (damage to the nerves and circulation to extremities), or nephropathy (kidney damage).
No cardiovascular problems such as angina, embolism, or aneurysm
No other condition that makes exercise inadvisable
Blood glucose will be monitored by your physical therapist to prevent hypoglycemia.
Is this treatment right for you?
Our clinicians begin with a comprehensive evaluation and shape your plan around your condition, goals, and physician’s guidance.
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