The best exercises for diabetes involve aerobics and strength training without increasing your risk for foot problems, like ulcers. Aerobic activities like walking, riding your bike, swimming, water aerobics, stair climbing, low-impact aerobics, rowing, and moderate to heavy gardening are all excellent activities without hard impacts on feet. If you can safely protect your lower limbs, running, hiking, tennis, skating, skiing, and dancing are also fun alternatives. They do, however, involve harder impacts on your feet. Strength training builds up your muscles and your physical stability. Weight lifting, resistance band training, and exercises that use your own body weight—push-ups, sit-ups, wall sits, and more—work your muscles without stressing your lower limbs, either.
For any kind of exercise with diabetes, you simply have to remember to start slow and work your way to more intense activities. Be extra careful with your footwear. Don’t take warm ups or cool downs for granted, either, and invest in your daily foot care. If you’re struggling to get started exercising when you have diabetes, let our team at Podiatry Associates, P.C. help you. Call (303) 805-5156 to make an appointment at our Cherry Creek, Parker, or Castle Pines, CO, offices.