What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects how your body processes blood sugar (glucose), which is essential for energy. When someone has diabetes, their body either doesn’t produce enough insulin (Type 1) or doesn’t use insulin effectively (Type 2), leading to elevated blood sugar levels.
Managing diabetes requires a holistic approach, involving a team of allied health professionals who work together to manage symptoms and improve lifestyle factors for better overall health.
Coast Sport Exercise Physiology for diabetes management
Exercise is a powerful tool for managing diabetes, offering a range of physical and emotional benefits. Our Exercise Physiologists can provide an individualised exercise program for those with diabetes, as well as education on how to exercise safely. This includes monitoring blood sugar levels before and after exercise, and managing symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, and high blood pressure.
Some benefits of exercising include:
- Insulin Regulation: Physical activity improves the body’s ability to use insulin more effectively, helping regulate blood sugar levels. It increases insulin sensitivity, which is especially beneficial for people with Type 2 diabetes.
- Increased Muscle Mass: Resistance training (such as weight lifting) helps build muscle, which can increase metabolism and improve blood sugar control. More muscle mass means your body burns more energy, even at rest, contributing to better blood sugar regulation.
- Weight Management: Regular exercise helps maintain a healthy weight, which is important in preventing and managing Type 2 diabetes.
- Cardiovascular Health: Diabetes increases the risk of heart disease. Exercise improves heart health by reducing blood pressure, lowering cholesterol, and improving circulation.
- Mental and Emotional Well-Being: Exercise helps reduce stress, anxiety, and symptoms of depression, which can be common in people living with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Meet our Exercise Physiology team here!
Treating Diabetes requires a multidisciplinary team!
Here at Coast Sport, we have podiatrists and dietitians to help you with your management! We liaise closely with your GP and Specialists involved in your care!
Coast Sport Podiatry
Diabetes can significantly impact foot health due to poor circulation and nerve damage (neuropathy), which can lead to infections, ulcers, and even amputations if not properly managed. A podiatrist plays a vital role in preventing and treating these complications by:
- Routine Foot Care: Podiatrists perform regular foot assessments, looking for signs of infections, wounds, or deformities that may go unnoticed due to nerve damage.
- Wound Care: They provide specialised treatment for diabetic foot ulcers and help monitor healing to prevent further complications.
- Proper Footwear Advice: Podiatrists can recommend custom orthotics or footwear that provide support and help prevent pressure sores or calluses.
- Managing Circulation and Neuropathy: Through treatments and education, podiatrists help manage circulation problems and reduce the impact of nerve damage, improving foot health and mobility.
Coast Sport Dietitians
Dietitians play a crucial role in helping people with diabetes manage their condition through proper nutrition. They provide personalised advice on how food affects blood sugar levels and how to make healthy food choices that support stable glucose control.
Ways that a Coast Sport Dietitian can help manage diabetes include:
- Understanding the Impact of Food on Blood Sugar: Education on how different foods affect blood sugar levels, particularly how high-carbohydrate or high-sugar foods can cause insulin spikes and increase glucose levels in the blood.
- Meal Planning and Blood Sugar Control: Dietitians create individualised meal plans that consider timing, portion sizes, and types of food to minimise insulin spikes and keep glucose levels within the target range.
- Incorporating Exercise into Meal Plans: Since physical activity can affect blood sugar levels, a dietitian can work with individuals to coordinate their meals around exercise. This includes adjusting meal timing and carbohydrate intake to prevent hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) during or after exercise, while also helping to avoid high blood sugar levels by balancing meals before exercise.
- Supporting Long-Term Health Goals: In addition to helping manage blood sugar levels, dietitians assist in making dietary changes that can help manage weight, reduce inflammation, lower cholesterol, and improve heart health—important factors in managing diabetes and preventing complications
Visit our Dietitian page to find out more!
Book in with the Coast Sport team today!
Helping the Central Coast Feel Well, Move Well and Perform Well!