Weight loss improves heart function.

[catherinecherub]

Adults with heart related deaths are 2 - 4 times higher in diabetics than adults without diabetes. Keeping you blood glucose levels at acceptable levels is only half the story to improving your overall health. Exercise is a must to keep your heart healthy.

This study shows that obese patients who lost a moderate amount of weight by eating less and exercising more improved their cardiovascular health.
A 2 yr. study showed participants

.....decreased the thickness of their heart muscle,
.....improved pumping function,
.....improved relaxation of the heart,
.....decreased the thickness of the carotid artery walls.

Diets employed were low carbohydrate and low fat and the results were the same. (No information on the ratio of nutrition).

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/173813.php

Exercise means different things to different people. Some feel you have to go jogging, join a gym, play in competitive sports.
Personally I think that walking, cycling, swimming, gardening, dog walking, household chores are enough. As long as you devote at least 30 mins a day to activities, (you can break this up into 10 minute bouts)
then you are doing more than you perhaps were. Even if you have reached your ideal weight and your blood sugar levels are acceptable it is still important to keep at the exercise.

 

[cugila]

Thanks for that information Catherine.

I'm in full agreement. Having a healthy heart has to be a Diabetic's priority. It doesn't matter how good your Bg control is, if you don't exercise that old heart it will let you down......in a bad way.

It's not just Diabetes we need to think of when we consider our diets, we should look at the overall picture. Treat our conditions, our bodies holistically. Not a good idea to just concentrate on one thing at the expense of other areas in the body.

Losing weight itself has to be one of the main factors in improving Heart health, less strain on the 'old ticker', far more energy, more vitality. A better quality of life.

You only need a little exercise to make a difference, say 15 mins a day of gentle exercise will see benefits all round, then when you are used to that up it to a minimum of 30 mins a day. Even if you are sedentary, there are resistance exercises which you can do which require little effort and are easy on the joints too. You don't have to join a gym. The exercise will lower your Bg levels as well, so that has to be a benefit in assisting your Bg control.