Set Goals
Goals help give shape to your exercise plan. They give you something specific to work toward. Reaching a goal marks your success. Setting new goals keeps you going. Start out by asking yourself why you plan to exercise. Do you want to:
- Feel better?
- Move easier?
- Lose weight?
- Get stronger?
- Need more energy?
- Reduce stress?
- Stay fit while learning to live with diabetes?
- Reduce your risk of diabetes complications such as heart disease?
- Get your doctor or partner to stop nagging you?
Once you know why you plan to exercise, talk with your doctor about realistic ways to reach your goal. With your doctor or exercise specialist, you can plan an exercise routine with your goal in mind. Your program will need to take into account your diabetes management routine.
Your doctor and diabetes educator can help you:
- Plan the best times to exercise
- Learn when to test your blood sugar levels
- Understand what your test results mean in terms of exercise
- Avoid problems with low blood sugar levels
- Learn to inspect your feet before and after exercise
- Manage other specific health concerns
Here's how this might work. Suppose you have type 2 diabetes and are overweight. You work in an office and drive to work. You don't have an exercise plan. Your doctor says that if you lose some weight and start to exercise, you may be able to improve your blood sugar control. After your physical exam and an exercise stress test, the doctor says you can start a walking program.
Your health goal: to lose 10 pounds. Your fitness goal: to stay with a regular walking program for 3 months, building up to 30 minutes of walking five times a week. Current fitness level: couch potato.
