02/10/2020

Exercising Your Options: Learn How to Exercise with Diabetes

Megrette Fletcher M.Ed., RD, CDE, Wentworth Health Partners Diabetes Services

“You should walk for 30 minutes every day.”

“The goal is getting 10,000 steps”

“Vigorous activity is an important of your diabetes plan.”

These statements are tossed around and they can make exercising with diabetes feel like a “should do” or a “have to” and not a choice. This can take all the fun out being more active.

So, how can you think of being more active as a “get to” and take it off the “should do” list?

This episode of the Sweet Support podcast talks about how to exercise your options and find the activity that is right for you. Learn what the concept of embodiment is and why, “Sometimes it’s the smallest decisions that can change your life forever."

Moving your body on a more consistent basis is making the decision to listen to your body, and reconnect to it, instead of rejecting it. When someone with diabetes decides to exercise their options regarding physical activity, they are personalizing a plan and choosing different types of activity. One day, it might be to focus on balance, the next day, add in some stretching to increase flexibility. It isn’t just about strength or endurance training, but balancing all different types of physical activity.

John C. Maxwell said, “Life is a matter of choices, and every choice you make, makes you.” When clients believe that they “have to” walk or go to the gym they aren’t making a choice but following orders.

If you are thinking, maybe it is time to get more active, consider attending our Diabetes Services Community Education Series. No time? Consider subscribing to one of the many online magazines that focus on diabetes care such as Forecast, or Diabetic Living. There are also online resources like www.diabetes.org that are filled with videos, links and information to help you exercise your options with diabetes, safely.

To learn more, listen to our Sweet Support Podcast or call Wentworth-Douglass Hospital’s Diabetes Services at (603) 740-2887.