| There are two main types of diabetes, type I and type | | | | normal amount of insulin for a sedentary situation can |
| II. Type I diabetes is characterized by the pancreas | | | | pose the risk of hypoglycemia or insulin shock during |
| making too little or no insulin. An individual with diabetes | | | | exercise. General exercise guidelines for type I are as |
| type I will have to inject insulin throughout the day in | | | | follows: allow adequate rest during exercise sessions |
| order to control glucose levels. Type II diabetes, also | | | | to prevent high blood pressure, use low impact |
| known as adult onset diabetes, is characterized by the | | | | exercises and avoid heavy weight lifting, and always |
| pancreas not producing enough insulin to control | | | | have a supply of carbohydrates nearby. If blood sugar |
| glucose levels or the cells not responding to insulin. | | | | levels get too low, the individual may feel shaky, |
| When a cell does not respond to insulin, it is known as | | | | disoriented, hungry, anxious, become irritable or |
| insulin resistance. When a subject is diagnosed with | | | | experience trembling. Consuming a carbohydrate |
| type II diabetes, exercise and weight control are | | | | snack or beverage will alleviate these symptoms in a |
| prescribed as measures to help with insulin resistance. | | | | matter of minutes. |
| If this does not control glucose levels, then medication | | | | Before engaging in exercise, it is important for blood |
| is prescribed. The risk factors for type II diabetes | | | | sugar levels to be tested to make sure that they are |
| include: inactivity, high cholesterol, obesity, and | | | | not below 80 to 100 mg/dl range and not above 250 |
| hypertension. Inactivity alone is a very strong risk | | | | mg/dl. Glucose levels should also be tested before, |
| factor that has been proven to lead to diabetes type II. | | | | during, after and three to five hours after exercise. |
| Exercise will have a positive effect on diabetes type II | | | | During this recovery period (3-5 hours after exercise), it |
| while improving insulin sensitivity while type I cannot be | | | | is important for diabetics to consume ample |
| controlled be an exercise program. Over 90% of | | | | carbohydrates in order to prevent hypoglycemia. |
| individuals with diabetes have type II. | | | | Exercise will greatly benefit an individual with type II |
| Exercise causes the body to process glucose faster, | | | | diabetes because of its positive effects on insulin |
| which lowers blood sugar. The more intense the | | | | sensitivity. Proper exercise and nutrition are the best |
| exercise, the faster the body will utilize glucose. | | | | forms of prevention for type II diabetics. It is important |
| Therefore it is important to understand the differences | | | | for training protocols to be repeated almost daily to |
| in training with type I and type II diabetes. It is important | | | | help with sustaining insulin sensitivity. To prevent |
| for an individual who has diabetes to check with a | | | | hypoglycemia, progressively work up to strenuous |
| physician before beginning an exercise program. When | | | | activity. |
| training with a diabetic, it is important to understand the | | | | As with individuals with type I diabetes, carbohydrates |
| dangers of injecting insulin immediately prior to | | | | should also be present during training to assist in raising |
| exercise. An individual with type I diabetes injecting their | | | | blood sugar levels if the individual becomes low. |