| Abstract: |
A lifestyle the incorporates sufficient physical activity aids in diabetes prevention and is extremely beneficial to general health. This chapter on physical activity is from a comprehensive text that serves as a resource for all health professionals, community professionals, and individuals who provide education to individuals with diabetes. The author reviews current physical fitness terminology, including health-related physical fitness; the role of physical activity in diabetes prevention and treatment; the effect of physical activity on diabetes management, including cardiovascular exercise, resistance exercises, and flexibility exercises; the physiological responses to physical activity, notably changes associated with blood glucose levels; hypoglycemia and physical activity; self-management strategies for safe physical activity, including adding carbohydrates, medication adjustments, and problem-solving; the four components of the exercise prescription, including intensity, mode, frequency, and duration; physical activity in special populations, including children and teens, and elderly adults; and medical considerations, including the need for preactivity medical exam and assessment, cardiovascular disease, neuropathy, nephropathy, and retinopathy. The author stresses that learning to overcome barriers that interfere with a more physically active lifestyle is a large part of diabetes self-management education. The chapter includes a list of key points, a summary of teaching strategies, case studies, suggested Internet resources, a glossary of key terms, and a list of references. 13 tables. 45 references. |