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Exercise for Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes is the fastest growing chronic condition in Australia and is currently the biggest challenge confronting Australia’s health system. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) accounts for 85-95% of all diabetes cases in the world, and one we come across regularly at Central Performance. A sedentary lifestyle and excess body weight are the two major risk factors for T2DM and its complications.

Exercise is now widely recognised as central to the management of T2DM. Patients with T2DM have too much glucose in their blood, either because their body does not produce enough insulin to process it, or because their body does not use insulin properly (insulin resistant). In either case, exercise can reduce the amount glucose in your blood. If you’re insulin resistant, exercise makes insulin more effective, allowing our cells to take up glucose more effectively during and after exercise. When we exercise, our muscles are able to take up and use glucose without insulin.

The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) guidelines for Exercise and T2DM states that a combination of aerobic and resistance training is recommended for optimal blood glucose management. A single bout of exercise can enhance the responsiveness of muscles to glucose uptake, with benefits lasting from 2 hours up to 24 hours post-exercise. Building more muscle is particularly beneficial for patients with T2DM because muscles take up the most glucose. In addition to the effects on insulin and blood glucose level, exercise also assist with improvements in cardiovascular risk, blood lipid profiles, and quality of life of patients with T2DM.

Exercise Physiologists, who are skilled professionals in the management of chronic conditions such as diabetes, are trained to develop a tailored exercise program for patients with T2DM. Our Exercise Physiologists at Central Performance will work with you to develop a personalised exercise program that takes into consideration your current abilities and goals while considering potential complications.  At Central Performance, we believe in a multidisciplinary approach to every condition. We will be working alongside your GP, dietitian, and other healthcare professionals to ensure your blood glucose levels are well managed, making your exercise journey at safe and effective.



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