Being active is a great way to help control diabetes. Exercise
helps lower your blood sugar. During physical activity, your
body uses insulin much more efficiently than it does at rest.
Exercise also helps you lose weight. Being overweight makes it
harder for your cells to use insulin, and can lead to a
condition called insulin resistance. Shedding extra pounds can
help you control your glucose levels. Losing weight also helps
you avoid other health problems, such as heart disease,
osteoarthritis, and high blood pressure. Activity helps lower
cholesterol, another risk factor for heart disease. A regular
exercise program may help some people with type 2 diabetes
decrease--or even stop--oral medication use. Although some
people are able to go off insulin by increasing physical
activity, most people with type 2 diabetes who already take
insulin will need to remain on insulin. Regular physical
activity can relieve stress; strengthen your heart, muscles and
bones; improve your blood circulation; and keep your join