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By Gabe Mirkin, M.D.

An exciting study from Yale shows that intense exercise is far more effective
in preventing and controlling diabetes than exercising at a leisurely pace
(Journal of Applied Physiology, January 2006). That means that the diabetic who
exercises hard enough to sweat and raises his heart rate above 80 percent of
its maximum will be far less likely to suffer heart attacks, strokes, blindness,
deafness, kidney failure and all the other terrible consequences of
uncontrolled diabetes.

Inactive, healthy, non-obese women over 72 years of age were started in training
programs of hard (80 percent of aerobic capacity), moderate (65 percent) and easy
(50 percent). All three groups did the same amount of work, burning 300 calories
per session. The intense group had a great improvement in their ability to use sugar
and suppress fat formation, while the low intensity group had little benefit.

That means that intense exercise can help to both prevent and treat diabetes. The most
tissue damage occurs immediately after eating when blood sugar levels rise the
highest. After you eat, sugar goes from the intestines into the bloodstream. The only
places that sugar can be stored are in your muscles and liver. When your muscles are
not exercised, they are full of sugar and sugar has no place to go after it enters
your bloodstream. On the other hand, when your muscles are exercised, they empty
their stored sugar. Then when you eat, sugar can go from the intestines into the
bloodstream and then immediately into the muscles, preventing a high rise in blood sugar.

The important news from this study is that the more intensely you exercise, the greater
the protection from developing diabetes and the better the control of your diabetes if
you already have it. A word of caution: 75 percent of diabetics die from heart disease
and some people can suffer heart attacks during intense exercise, so check with
your doctor first.

Dr. Gabe Mirkin has been a radio talk show host for 25 years and practicing physician for
more than 40 years; he is board certified in four specialties, including sports medicine.
Read or listen to hundreds of his fitness and health reports at
www.DrMirkin.com Free weekly newsletter on fitness, health, and nutrition.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gabe_Mirkin,_M.D.