What is the scariest, most daunting part of living with diabetes?
Everyone may have their own answer, but many of us would agree that the possibility of long-term complications is a very real and overwhelming concern.
If we don’t manage our blood glucose just right, if we let loose for a day, or if we miss a meal bolus, it can feel like the consequences are immediate and severe. In the back of our minds, we sometimes think, “Well, there goes a foot.” That may sound dramatic, but the fear of complications can loom over our shoulders.
The good news? A new study suggests that our risk of diabetes-related complications can drop considerably with one simple change:
Movement.
Researchers pooled data from nearly 2.4 million people across 27 health studies conducted around the world. The results showed that physical inactivity among people with diabetes was associated with:
- 10.2% of strokes
- 9.7% of diabetic retinopathy
- 7.3% of heart failure
- Up to 7% of heart disease
[1]
So how much activity does it take?
The study defined inadequate physical activity as less than 150 minutes per week of moderate-to-vigorous exercise.
According to the CDC, examples of moderate-intensity activity include:
- Brisk walking
- Slow bicycling
- Active yoga
- Line dancing
- General yard work or home repair
Vigorous activities include:
- Running
- Swimming laps
- Aerobic dancing
- Fast bicycling
- Jumping rope
- Heavy yard work like digging or shoveling
[1]
Physical activity is a core component of preventing diabetes complications.
The takeaway? It doesn’t have to be complicated.
A stroll a day can go a long way toward keeping diabetes complications away.
Make it simple. Make it fun. And most importantly, make it work for you.
The team at iDS is here to help you find what works best for your life so you can live long, stay active, and reduce your risk of complications while living with diabetes.
Reach out to our team of dedicated diabetes care clinicians
