Post by Jana on Oct 18, 2004 14:30:38 GMT -5
Staving off diabetes
Diabetes has increased tenfold in the United States in the past 30 years and so has pre-diabetes, previously called borderline diabetes. Dietary changes are important in helping obese and other at-risk people avoid diabetes, but physical exercise may be even more important.
"Exercise improves your insulin sensitivity, helps the body better metabolize glucose and keeps people at risk of diabetes out of the danger zone," says University of Alabama at Birmingham endocrinologist Richard Rosenthal, MD. Exercise that builds lean body mass -- such as weight training, yoga or Pilates -- can further improve insulin sensitivity, making it a helpful complement to aerobic exercise such as walking or running.
He emphasizes that people with pre-diabetes should try to exercise for a minimum of 20 to 30 minutes every day.
Diabetes has increased tenfold in the United States in the past 30 years and so has pre-diabetes, previously called borderline diabetes. Dietary changes are important in helping obese and other at-risk people avoid diabetes, but physical exercise may be even more important.
"Exercise improves your insulin sensitivity, helps the body better metabolize glucose and keeps people at risk of diabetes out of the danger zone," says University of Alabama at Birmingham endocrinologist Richard Rosenthal, MD. Exercise that builds lean body mass -- such as weight training, yoga or Pilates -- can further improve insulin sensitivity, making it a helpful complement to aerobic exercise such as walking or running.
He emphasizes that people with pre-diabetes should try to exercise for a minimum of 20 to 30 minutes every day.
