Best Exercises for Seniors with Diabetes

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 33 percent of older adults have diabetes. Those living with diabetes face numerous challenges, including managing their blood sugar levels and blood pressure.

How Does Exercise Help Seniors Who Have Diabetes?

Fortunately, regular physical activity can ease the burden. Exercise can help increase or lower blood sugar levels. It also encourages your body to make insulin, which converts glucose to energy. In addition, exercise can offer seniors with diabetes the following benefits:

Reduce bad cholesterol levels
Manage blood sugar levels
Lower HbA1c
Better manage weight
Enhance balance, range of motion, and flexibility
Improve sleep quality
Boost mental health

Try These Exercises if You Have Diabetes

Want to incorporate more physical activities into your daily life to manage your diabetes better? If so, here are five fun and safe exercises to try after discussing them with your primary care physician.

1. Walking

Walking is one of the simplest and most effective ways older adults can exercise. Just 15 minutes of walking at a moderate pace improves blood flow. Best of all, seniors can do it anywhere! Take a walk around your neighborhood, in a local park, or use a treadmill to walk in the comfort of your own home. Listen to your favorite tunes, a podcast, or an audiobook to make the time fly by.

2. Swimming

Some exercises can be challenging or even uncomfortable for older adults with painful chronic medical illnesses. Aquatic exercises, like swimming and aqua aerobics, are safe, enjoyable, and comfortable for seniors with these conditions.

3. Yoga

Yoga is another wonderful exercise for older adults with chronic health conditions. Yoga has been shown to improve flexibility, balance, and strength. It can also reduce stress and anxiety, promoting a calmer, more peaceful mindset.

Find a yoga class that caters to your ability levels. If you have mobility issues, you can also try chair yoga exercises.

4. Tai Chi

This ancient Chinese exercise involves gentle, safe, and effective movements that promote strength, flexibility, immunity, and balance. Tai Chi has also been shown to lower stress and increase relaxation.

5. Posture Exercises

These exercises help older adults slowly correct posture and promote blood circulation. Posture exercises aren’t that strenuous and are a safe, gentle way for seniors with diabetes to move their bodies.

Some posture exercises seniors can try include:

Arm stretches
Leg stretches
Rowing
Doorway lunges
Wall angles

Managing Your Lifestyle with Diabetes in Eagle, CO

Many Eagle, CO, fitness centers, such as Mountain Recreation, offer senior-friendly programs and classes, including the ones we mentioned above. Do you need safe, reliable transportation to your exercise classes? Or perhaps you’d like a hand cooking healthy meals in the kitchen?

Visiting Angels of Eagle, CO, provides in-home caregiving services to seniors throughout the area of Eagle and beyond. Our knowledgeable caregivers can help with meal planning and preparation, personal care, and will even accompany you for walks in the park or to your local senior or fitness center.

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