Can I start an Exercise Program?

In my office, I see a lot of diabetics for preventative foot care, and each and every one of them inevitably will ask me my opinion on exercising and the proper way to start. If you have recently been diagnosed with diabetes, or if you are overweight, it is important to speak to your pirmary care doctor before you start and exercise program, no matter how slow you start out.
Here are some other tips to keep in mind as a diabetic:

-Make sure you have proper fitting shoes. Very often our patients have prescription accomodative orthotics, or insoles, in their shoes to prevent areas of pressure from building up. Also, many of our patients have prescription diabetic shoes, either walking shoes or gym shoes, that are fitted by our certified medical assistants to make sure there are no pressure spots. We urge our patients to break in the shoes by wearing them an hour or two and gradually increasing the time worn each day, inspecting your feet for areas of redness or pressure.

-Make sure you have proper socks. I recommend a cotton blend with nylon or another material that "wicks moisture away" from the skin. This will prevent blisters in pressure areas, and also prevent fungus or athletes foot.

-Start off slowly, with a low impact activity such as walking. Build up the time gradually, either by distance or by time. If you have joint problems, consider swimming or aqua aerobics

-Keep water near by, and keep well hydrated, especially on hot days

-Always wear an ID tag indicating that you have diabetes to insure proper treatment in case there's a problem when you're exercising or you have an injury.

-Try to exercise at the same time every day for the same duration. This will help control your blood sugar. Exercise at least three times a week for about 30 to 45 minutes.