- Take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator.
- Park further away from your office or home and walk the extra distance.
- If you work at a desk all day long, take a break for five minutes every hour or so and just move around!
- And, offer to take something along to another office or department, so that you can enjoy a walk.
- Be active around the house. Believe it or not, housework is great exercise – try some vacuuming, dusting, or making the bed.
- Go out for a short walk before breakfast, after dinner or both! Start with 5-10 minutes and work up to 30 minutes.
- Walk or cycle instead of driving short distances.
- Wear your walking shoes and walk around shopping malls particularly in hot weather.
- Be active with your family and kids; enjoy outdoor activities.
- Ride a bike or go jogging on the Corniche or a park.
- Explore some of the walking routes in your area.
- Try different exercise classes such as kick-boxing, aqua aerobics or circuit training.
- Take up dancing!
Points to Keep in Mind…
- It is very important to self-monitor your blood glucose levels before, during (if the work out is of a long duration) and after exercising in order for your physician or diabetes health care team to determine if there is a need for any food and/or medication adjustments.
- There is an increased risk of hypoglycaemic episodes during and after an exercise routine especially for individuals taking insulin and/or oral hypoglycaemic agents (OHA), such as gliclazide or glibenclamide. So, carry a fast-acting carbohydrate, such as fruit juice at all times while exercising to treat any low blood sugar symptoms.
- Please remember to stay hydrated at all times.
- Always wear proper footwear.