Personalized exercise plans and principles for choosing exercise methods for diabetic patients

Methods of tailoring exercise plans

Principles of Planning

Once the patient has chosen a suitable exercise program, the next step is to create an exercise plan for themselves. Note that this plan must include:

(1) Clear: This includes what exercises you will do, where you will exercise, and when you will exercise. If you need help, who can help you achieve your goals?

(2) It is achievable: The planned amount of exercise should follow reasonable principles to ensure that you can actually complete it, thereby building your confidence. Exceeding a certain range will be detrimental to the patient.

(3) The planning period should be short: it is best to plan in one day or one week, and it should be in line with the goals of long-term activities.

(4) Flexible: Adjust or change the exercise content at the appropriate time, or re-establish exercise goals. New activities will increase one's interest and stimulate one's physical fitness.

(5) Reward yourself: When you achieve your goal, you can give yourself some specific rewards. This will enhance your sense of accomplishment and make it easier to continue.

Make a record sheet

During exercise, it is recommended that patients record their blood sugar and heart rate for self-monitoring at any time to ensure the safety of exercise. While observing and recording, they should also know which sports they are interested in and which sports are more helpful to them, and make adjustments as needed. This will make it easier to persevere.

How to choose a suitable exercise method for diabetic patients

Regular exercise can lower blood sugar and blood lipids.

Exercise can help with weight loss, lower blood lipids, and reduce abdominal fat, thus maintaining a healthy physique. Exercise effectively lowers blood sugar, and this blood sugar-lowering effect generally lasts for several hours after exercise. Exercise also allows muscles to utilize fatty acids more effectively, lowering plasma triglycerides, very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), while increasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL), which helps prevent complications such as coronary heart disease and cerebral arteriosclerosis. Long-term exercise can promote metabolism, enhance physical fitness, improve muscle glycogen oxidation metabolism, and cardiovascular function. Exercise can also relax tension and improve mood.

Exercise therapy is not suitable for diabetic patients with certain conditions.

(1) Patients with large fluctuations in blood sugar that are difficult to control should not exercise.

(2) Patients with severe retinal disease should not exercise, because if the amount of exercise is not controlled, excessive exercise can easily cause retinal hemorrhage.

(3) Patients with acute infection or diabetic ketoacidosis should not exercise, because these patients need to deal with the infection and ketone accumulation first.

(4) Patients with severe kidney disease should not exercise, as exercise will aggravate proteinuria and worsen the condition.

(5) Patients with severe hypertension and coronary heart disease should not exercise, as exercise can easily trigger angina and cerebral hemorrhage.