World Diabetes Day – Physio Tips

World Diabetes Day is a nominated day of awareness, featured around a yearlong campaign of diabetes education and prevention, engaging millions of people worldwide.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), or non-insulin dependent DM, is a lifestyle related disease that is rapidly increasing throughout the population at an alarming rate. Centered on the basis of poor glycemic control, T2DM has many lifestyle components involving both diet and physical activity. There is much research indicating that there is a greater likelihood to developing the disease with an insufficient amount of physical activity, otherwise a highly sedentary life. As little as 210 minutes of moderate intensity exercise, or 125 minutes of high intensity exercise per week has been shown to improve cardiovascular fitness, and body composition profiles in people with T2DM or pre-diabetes, as well as reduce the cardiovascular risk profile in those without, along with improving glycemic control.

Pilates is a great way to increase your physical activity through low impact exercises. Based in a studio, Pilates aims to strengthen and lengthen muscles to support everyday activities, along with improving core strength and postural awareness. Pilates programs can vary in intensity and can be specifically tailored to suit any individuals level of fitness and goals.

Due to the high incidence of co-morbidity in those with T2DM, it is also recommended that individuals be assessed by a Physiotherapist prior to the implementation of exercise programs, and that they be designed and delivered by appropriately qualified individuals such as Physiotherapists and Exercise Physiologists.