Walking With a Pedometer is Best Exercise for Diabetes

My dad (Big Irv or Itzi),who will be a healthy 84 this summer, has always said that " a brisk walk is the best exercise for everyone and anyone." After a "heart scare" in his late 30's, he began to walk every night, usually with my brother and me, and it was amazing how much weight we lost and how much better we all felt. We walked in the heat and in the cold. We talked about our beloved Phillies and listened to their games on a transistor radio in the Summer and we threw snowballs at STOP signs and fire hydrants in the Winter. And we walked the same route almost every night-once or twice around the cemetery up the street- which was 1 to 2 miles. And we always felt GREAT when we arrived home.

Now researchers at Stanford University have discovered why. They say that walking, probably the safest form of exercise, has a positive impact on weight, blood pressure, risk of stroke, muscle mass, and flexibility. Additionally. the study’s lead author, Dena Bravata, M.D., stated that participants who wore pedometers-a small device that clips on to your waistband or a pocket and measures how far you walk in steps or miles- increased their overall physical activity by 27 percent! When used properly, pedometers can have significant health benefits," states Michael See, Exercise Physiologist at the Joslin Diabetes Center, clinical partner of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

Exercise has been shown to lower blood glucose in people with diabetes, but make sure that you consume fifteen grams of carbohydrate for every 35 minutes of activity to avoid low blood glucose episodes. This means that it’s crucial to carry at least one snack with the appropriate carbohydrate content.

My dad, who still likes to walk when his knee isn't bothering him, also says that all diets are about one thing: "Burn up more calories than you take in." We'll discuss that at another time.

http://www.diabetespharmacist.com/articles/diabetes-and-exercise/

http://www.depsyl.com/

http://back2basicnutrition.com/

http://bionutritionalresearch.olhblogspace.com/