Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or use insulin properly. It is a serious
health complication that can lead to organ damage, heart disease, kidney failure, and
amputation. Insulin allows sugar to enter cells and provide energy to the body for daily activities.
Failure to produce or use insulin can lead to an excessive amount of sugar in the blood
impairing circulation and can damage nerve endings. 90 to 95 percent of people that have been
diagnosed with diabetes have the type 2 variety. This is caused when the body cannot
metabolize insulin properly and can develop at any age. Type 2 diabetes is preventable but it
can worsen without intervention.
Common triggers of diabetes are poor diet, obesity, and lack of physical activity. These causes
play important roles in developing type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes can be managed or even
prevented by committing to a healthy lifestyle that focuses on weight control, getting proper
nutrition, regular exercise, and other lifestyle changes. On top of it, physical therapists can
greatly help a diabetic patient to reduce potential risks by designing a safe and effective
program.
Exercise programs can help you lower your blood sugar levels. It can also improve your mobility
while reducing the pain that the condition may cause. Physical therapy will be beneficial in many
aspects of healing and relief. More than the movement, it will enhance your strength, flexibility,
endurance, balance, and coordination in performing daily living and work activities. It also
contributes a safe way of treating chronic pain and protects painful areas from diabetic nerve
pain and prevents blisters and sores from developing.
Aerobic and resistance training
Your personalized physical therapy will include exercises like aerobic training, a walking
program, and wound care therapy. Aerobic and resistance training will help you manage your
weight and glucose level, and build muscle. A combination of resistance training and a healthy
diet can reverse type 2 diabetes.
Wound care therapy
Wound care therapy includes manual therapies, electric stimulation, compression therapy, and
wound care techniques. These treatments will provide the wound with the blood and oxygen it
needs to heal and improve circulation for faster healing of the wounds.
Walking program
Taking regular walks can lower the risk of heart disease and increase other health benefits. This
basic form of exercise is recommended by physical therapists. According to a study by Harvard
Health researchers, women with diabetes who do at least four hours of moderate exercise,
including walking, had a 40% lower risk of developing heart disease.
Diabetic neuropathy
Diabetes causes the deterioration of nerves and blood vessels which results in numbness or
weakness. Physical therapists can help you modify your daily activities to prevent accidental
injury and minimize discomfort through low-impact exercise programs.
Physical therapy can greatly help in managing and preventing the risks of type 2 diabetes. With
proper exercise programs and a nutritional diet, reversing diabetes is possible. Seek help from
professional physical therapists to guide you in creating the best suitable program for you.
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