Many Diabetics Should NOT Exercise

Recently I posted a blog that began the process of breaking down a diabetic story that was featured on aol.com.  The theme of the post was to show how Big Pharma and Big Media scratch each others backs while they cleverly shape your truth about your healthcare options.  The second reason listed in what causes high blood sugar was “ you aren’t exercising enough.”

One of the big problems with diabetic recommendations from the mainstream is that they are overly general and often do not apply to you as an individual and in some cases the general advice could make you worse.  This is certainly the case with this piece of advice.  Let us first take a look at the statement itself…”you aren’t exercising enough.” Well then what would constitute enough?  The premise is you should do enough exercise to control your blood sugar.  But does this approach produce results and is it safe?

Well for many of you the approach does not produce the results of lowering blood sugar.  One of the reasons this may be is because your blood sugar is not high because of lack of exercise, others do not have the energy or feel good enough to exercise.

Is it safe?  For many diabetics exercise is the last thing they should do.  Why?  I know all you have ever been told about how to “manage” your diabetes is exercise is very important.  True, exercise can be a very important part of any health care regimen, but it can also lead to a worsening of the condition.  Exercise is a stress.  The question then becomes is the exercise going to be a good stress or a bad stress?  In other words will the stress and strain of exercise create a scenario where the body takes the stress and builds itslef back stronger and healthier or will the stress cause further degradation of health?

I submit to you that many people with chronic health problems (like diabetes) should not exercise until they are healthy and fit enough to do so.  In fact for new patients in my clinic it is off limits to exercise for the first three months.  PERIOD, or i don’t treat you!  And even though my diabetic patients do not exercise for the first three months they often lose massive amounts of weight.  GO FIGURE!

I learned a long time ago from one of my first mentors in healthcare…if you want to be closest to the truth just do the opposite of what the masses are doing.  I believe this piece of advice holds very true in this case.  After all look at what the masses are told to do regarding diabetes and look at the results we are receiving.  The proof is in the pudding as they say…

Yours In Health,

Dr. C