• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Should we get help with exercise?

Hi, I am not type 2, but about 20 years ago my diabetes specialist told me of a sceme, reduced price at the gym for people with diabetes. Even though I have always been slim and very active, at home and with work, I decided to take them up on this. If I can remember it was for about 3 months ? I went after work and hated it. Being enclosed in a room was like a caged animal to me. I love walking,being out an about in the fresh air, having a little dance to some favourite tunes, gardening, DIY, ask the council about getting an allotment, waking groups, volunteer work in the countryside and rivers, don't take the lift, take the stairs, instead, light exercises and stretching. It's not only great for the body, but for your mind too and an overall feeling of well being.
 
I totally agree that you don't need a gym to get yourself fit - I guess my question would be however, do you think a newly diagnosed T2D would be more committed to getting fit if there was a program to support them with say a personal trainer/gym at the outset?
I wonder if tackling that initial inertia and helping to get someone to a point where they are physically (and probably as a consequence mentally) in a much better place - so combining a program with a carb restricted diet; would it be enough to sustain a lifestyle change? How long would it need to last to be effective, and how often would there need to be a top-up?

I guess if people are getting fit collectively then there is an advantage that a 'community' develops to support and encourage each other too.

I'm just chucking it out there as a thought - the long term costs of not getting control of diabetes, not only financially to us all, but more importantly the cost to the individual are cripplingly high.
 
Helephantastic said:
I think we should have free gym/workout membership
Click to expand...

Completely agree.

I have a brilliant doctor.
When I was diagnosed, I was lucky enough to be recommended for a place at a specialist NHS gym, dealing specifically with patients with mobility issues.
Heart attack, amputations, and like me, very obese.

High impact exercise makes a lot more difference to my insulin resistance than light exercise, and with the correct guidance, everyone can do a programmed workout that will have the desired impact on their bodies.

The sense of achievement as you progressively become fitter, truly recorded on the chart in front of you is greatly uplifting.

I am now no longer obese, but still a member of a local gym.
 
Whilst not having a yes or no I this discussion surely the cost of gree gym for diabetics would be very small compared to the cost of this's immigrant business
 

Thanks for that - it's great to hear such an optimistic account.
 
Something that would have helped me would have been some fitness monitor advice. What are the advantages of using one, etc, which one might be best for particular priorities, etc. And a chance to try different ones on, because they vary in what people find most comfortable. Or maybe I can go and find out all that somewhere I don't know about?
 
Hi @JenniferW

There's lots of info on this in the sports exercise thread so come on over have a look around and once you've decided what you need it for and importantly your budget. ASK away. Depending on your needs I'm sure someone will be able to point you in the right direction and you can start for free with certain app right up to hundreds of pounds on the latest GPs hrm with loads of options in between.
 
Free gym memberships?.....why?.....its as simple as getting off your backside and going for a walk. The NHS has enough to pay for without giving ''incentives'' away. Exercise is free and available to everyone. If you can get to a gym then you can easily go for a long walk
 
Since I was diagnosed with T2 and put on insulin I have gained six stone, largely due to the lack of advice about how to treat or manage my diabetes with either diet or exercise.

If I had been offered the sort of dietary advice that is currently being offered for insulin users, ie Low-carb, and access to a supported exercise regime, not necessarily a gym, I don't think I would have gained as much weight.

Although I am nearly sixty, I am finally getting to grips with what I need to do, mainly through the forums and information on this site and others, as well as reading a huge amount about Low-carbing.
 
I think there should be some sort of initial fitness support group for Diabetics. I know that I greatly benefited from the exercise machines in the hospital, attending Cardiac Rehab 3 days a week for a few weeks. The main benefit was getting you into the right mindset and incorporating exercise into your daily routine. How or, what you did to continue after that was up to you.

If you think it is the main route to lose weight, here is a calculation, to burn 500 calories I would need to briskly walk 4 miles. The real benefit, it does my blood sugar levels and little ticker the world of good

I'm lucky, I have my own gym. However, for a female or even a male who wants to incorporate an evening walk after the last meal to improve glucose levels, after dark could pose some, security, personal safety concerns.

What about getting a fitness DVD or Wii fit if you need something more interactive?

There are many options to consider outside of a gym environment.

Should there be free gym membership? No. I do think a rehab for a limited period should be available for individuals who want to improve health and well being.
 
Well, I am now back from my summer trip to India/ China, that is why I am not active on the forum. Advised a few T2 folks over last few weeks on weight reduction. However, frankly - I could not suggest anything for most of the T2 folks I met due to several reasons - some have knee conditions, some are too old and fragile, some are too obese, some have very high upper body mass and weaker legs etc; some have heart condition, some have thyroid or kidney or liver - list is long.

It is not possible to generalize 'advise' that works for all. It is known fact that humans may behave and respond differently from others. Then I told myself - better be active, eat healthy, do your workouts regularly.

Coming to the point raised by OP -
1. Generally people tend to do well in gyms due to various aspects - environment, curiosity in using machines, presence of others, sense of money [that is paid] and time [may be fixed]. Most gyms have trainers who normally can help folks with conditions. - This is definitely a plus. However if the individual is irregular or has 'ego' or 'attitude' and hence failed to follow the advise - well, no results.

2. It is very easy to do fitness training at home without any equipment. Many folks that I know do this without any issue. However, one has to be motivated, sincere to self. Body weight exercises are great; can be very useful for obese folks.

If someone is looking only for 'help with exercises' there are numerous threads on this forum and then several other forums are also there. Getting help is not going to be a challenge.
 
The NHS is extremely concerned about weight management and "catching" people pre diabetes.

Many, many CCGs have been meeting and listening to patients and weight management has been top of the list.

I drafted a contract between our GP and local gym to get reduced membership for patients with specific illnesses and weight problems.
The referrals initially get 2 1hr personal training sessions per week, building up to 3 per week for 12 weeks. A one to one personal trainer for an hour could cost £50. The whole 12 weeks costs £57.

Thereafter membership is discounted ongoing.

This has now been adpoted county wide. As our obesity for adults runs at 67+%. More than the 63% nationally.

Gyms are businesses. GPs are businesses... They cannot afford to give freebies.

£57 is equivalent to some peoes snacks a month.... Smoking, drinking. I know of a very obese T1 who will not pay for gym as its too much money but gets bladdered at pub at least 3 nights a week....

Diet is the top paramount item of concern but so is toming and exercising during losing weight. You do not want layers of fat hanging in excess because you didn't exercise at the same time.

I hated gym for 50 years. Can't wait to go now. I absolutely live it. No way would I have been like this unless I had my personal trainer through the referral scheme.

There are specifics for gyms that many appear NOT to be following. There must be specifically trained staff for illness management. I recently went to look at another gym as I am moving shortly. I spoke to staff and found out their qualufications. They had no worries about me attending. However after speaking to a qualufied, specialist trainer.. He said I should join and sue them as they would be neglugent taking me!!

Find out if your gp does a referrals scheme.
 
Put 'em all in camps that'll show 'em.
 
JTL said:
Put 'em all in camps that'll show 'em.
Click to expand...

Hi-de-hi campers, are we ready for a bright new start to the day?

Gladys, that man's just shot off the back of the treadmill and knocked over Spike.

That sort of camp?
 
photognut said:
Hi-de-hi campers, are we ready for a bright new start to the day?

Gladys, that man's just shot off the back of the treadmill and knocked over Spike.

That sort of camp?
Click to expand...
Yeah but with armed guards junkyard dogs and gruel .... to add a little spice.
Low carb gruel of course .....
 
donnellysdogs said:
£57 is equivalent to some peoes snacks a month.... Smoking, drinking. I know of a very obese T1 who will not pay for gym as its too much money but gets bladdered at pub at least 3 nights a week....
Click to expand...

well said., cannot disagree. Facts are painful to read or hear or to digest.
 
Get a dog and take it on long walks, best exercise ever and so enjoyable! And if you can't have a dog of your own I'm sure there's a dog or two living nearby who would be happy to help you out
 
rowan said:
Get a dog and take it on long walks, best exercise ever and so enjoyable! And if you can't have a dog of your own I'm sure there's a dog or two living nearby who would be happy to help you out
Click to expand...
Another good place to find dogs who will take you for a walk is your local animal shelter. There are usually never enough volunteers for that.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn More.…