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Exercise Recommendations for Type II Diabetes

By Dr. John M Berardi, Ph.D.
First published at www.mothernature.com, 2001.

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This month, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), a professional organization that is a recognized leader in exercise research, issued a position statement on the treatment of type II diabetes with exercise (1). Type II diabetes, a condition that affects approximately 16 million in the US (10.3 diagnosed, 5.4 undiagnosed), is characterized by insulin resistance and a progressive insulin deficiency. Although the prevalence of type II diabetes is high, many individuals suffer from sub-clinical insulin resistance. This, in time, may lead to full-blown type II diabetes. Diseases associated with type II diabetes are obesity, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and cerebrovascular disease.

In conditions of insulin resistance, the normal storage of carbohydrates in the liver and muscle is impaired. Typically after a meal, insulin is released to promote carbohydrate uptake. In type II diabetes, insulin release is not sufficient. In addition, once insulin and carbohydrates do reach the cell membrane, there is a defect in transport. These two situations lead to dangerously high levels of blood sugar, which can further decrease cell transport and insulin release. Fasted blood sugar in type II diabetics can reach levels 3-4 times those in the normal range.

Since diabetes is one of the leading causes of death in the US, insulin resistance, which goes undiagnosed in a large percentage of the population, is a frightening precursor to the disease. Risk factors for the disease are older age, obesity, minority ethnicity, family history, physical inactivity, and a high fat/high sugar diet. Are you at risk? If so, exercise and nutritional supplementation may help combat insulin resistance. For the treatment of insulin resistance, the ACSM recommends the following:

1. Moderately intense physical activity on most, if not all, days of the week
2. Exercise sessions of at least 30-60 minutes per day
3. Aerobic activity expending a minimum of 1000 calories per week
4. Resistance training (at least 1 set of 10-15 repetitions for each of 8-10 exercises) at least 2 days per week.

Also, according to a newly published paper, it may now be possible to combine exercise with specific nutrients to treat insulin resistance/deficiency (2). These nutrients include:

1. Bioactive chromium for skeletal muscle insulin resistance
2. Conjugated linoleic acid for fat cell insulin resistance
3. High-dose biotin for excessive liver glucose release
4. Coenzyme Q(10) for decreased insulin release from the pancreas
5. HCA, Carnitine, Pyruvate for increased fatty acid oxidation

Using these recommendations, insulin resistant and diabetic individuals may be able to slow or even reverse many of the symptoms of their disease.

References:

1. Albright A, et al. American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Exercise and type 2 diabetes. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2000 Jul;32(7):1345-60.
2. McCarty MF. Toward a wholly nutritional therapy for type 2 diabetes.
   Med Hypotheses. 2000 Mar;54(3):483-7.