11) EXERCISE AND TYPE 2 DIABETES
e) Exercise and Peripheral Arterial Disease
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) of the legs is a major concern to persons with diabetes. Typically three groups of muscles are involved in PAD of the legs, the thigh muscles which flex the knees, the calf muscles which lift the foot when standing, and the calf muscles which lift the foot when seated. It is important for a person with diabetes to move the three groups of leg muscles involved in PAD with vigorous exercise at least once a week. By exercising these muscles to the point of exhaustion, the blood vessels in the legs are kept healthy and collateral growth of blood vessels around existing arterial damage is encouraged (very important as almost all persons with type 2 diabetes will have some existing blood vessel damage). PAD of the legs is an underlying cause of many deaths in diabetes, even though it is rarely listed on death certificates.
Unfortunately there is no good exercise (other than climbing a mountain), which exercises all three groups of leg muscles. So it is a good idea to mix up your aerobic exercises: the treadmill (maximum climb angle!), the bicycle, and stair climbing machines together hit two of the groups of muscles, the external calf muscles and the thigh muscles. The tough one is the internal calf muscle (the "soleus"). This requires a weight program called the "seated calf raise", which can be found in the weight room at the local gym. One way to do this at home is to sit down, put a soft but heavy weight on your knees (your significant other?) and then rapidly move the weight up and down by flexing your ankles. Do not place a hard bar or object directly on the knees during this exercise as it can damage the cartilage of the knees.
If the person with type 2 diabetes already has leg pain upon walking any distance, they already have PAD. The good news is that they can prevent the PAD from getting any worse. The bad news is that just walking till they start to have some small amount of pain, resting till the pain goes away and then resuming walking won't work very well. Research has shown that an individual with PAD must walk through the pain till the pain becomes unbearable and only rest at that point. This painful regimen can stop and even reverse PAD. This is one good incentive to make sure PAD is avoided by starting a vigorous leg exercise program before PAD shows up.
Current Chapter: 11) EXERCISE
a) Introduction
b) Exercise and low Blood Sugar
c) Exercise and Weight Lose
d) Aerobic Exercise and Heart Disease
e) Exercise and Peripheral Arterial Disease
f) Proper Resistance Training
g) Exercise Myths
h) Exercise, Stress and Diabetes
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