Is it safe for me to be physically active

IS IT SAFE

FOR ME TO BE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE?

Starting an exercise regime can be a worrying prospect for older people with diabetes, particularly if they’re dealing with complications from living with a long-term condition, MARIAN BRENNAN writes.

At some stage, everyone living with diabetes will have had a health professional tell them how wonderful physical activity is for long-term health conditions such as diabetes, heart problems, persistent pain, arthritis and mental health – and that you should do more! But many who are living with these long-term health conditions find the prospect of starting physical activity a bit frightening. After all, making our bodies and heart work hard is surely a bit risky for someone with long-term health problems, right? Although it can still be a bit scary, the opposite is actually true!

The risk of physical activity causing an adverse event is very low. We know that inactivity poses a higher risk to speak to your GP or physiotherapist – you may need a more structured plan to get back into exercise.

Fatigue

Like pain, some temporary fatigue is normal but exercise will improve preexisting symptoms of fatigue, sleep, and well-being. Slow and steady is the key here too!

Shortness of breath

If you haven’t done any physical activity in a while, you might not be used to the sensation of being out of breath – it can be scary when you’re not used to it! Again, this is normal. Start at a low intensity and gradually build from there at a rate that is comfortable for you. experiencing hypoglycaemia or low blood glucose levels during and after physical activity. Some people even experience a rise in glucose with higher intensity activities. Talk to your endocrinologist or credentialled diabetes educator to discuss an individual plan for managing activity. In the long-term, regular physical activity can improve daily glucose levels and reduce the amount of required insulin or medication.

Making our bodies and heart work hard is risky for someone with long-term health problems, right? Actually, no!

our health and that the benefits of physical activity far outweigh any risks for those already living with a longterm condition. For this reason, regular physical activity, along with standard medical care, plays an important role in managing and preventing many long-term conditions, including diabetes.

If you find yourself wondering if it is safe to start an activity, try to think of any symptoms you might currently be experiencing, rather than the condition itself. Let’s take a closer look at some of these.

Muscle or joint pain

It is normal to experience a temporary increase in pain with any new activity but pain does not mean tissue damage. Usually, these pains will stop once you and your body adapt to the activity you are doing. Slowly introducing physical activity has actually been shown to help with pain management. If you do experience worsening pain that doesn’t subside,

Cardiac chest pain

If you experience ischaemic heart disease (or angina) you might experience chest pain from time to time. The benefits of physical activity outweigh any temporary, slightly increased risk of chest pain during activity. Physical activity is a good treatment option for stable angina but if you experience increasing frequency and severity of chest pain, seek a review from your GP or cardiologist.

Frailty and risk of falls

Building muscle strength and balance through activity can dramatically reduce your risk of falling. Physical activity will need to be tailored to you but is a safe and effective way to manage falls risk.

Fluctuating blood glucose levels

People living with type 1 diabetes or those with type 2 diabetes using insulin, or a type of medication called Sulphonylureas, may be at risk of

Heart palpitations

As with shortness of breath, being aware of your heartrate increasing during activity can be scary if you’re not used to exercise. This is generally just a normal response to activity, but if you are concerned, check with your GP. People living with atrial fibrillation also benefit from regular physical activity.

When should I see my doctor?

You should check in with your GP if you notice a dramatic increase in breathlessness, new or worsening chest pain (or increasing GTN use), a sudden onset of rapid palpitations or irregular heartbeat, dizziness, a reduction in exercise capacity or a sudden change in vision. It can take time to work through any concerns or fears relating to starting a new activity. We would encourage you to talk to your GP or treating health professionals about any concerns you have. Discussing these concerns can improve your confidence to get started, but of course everyone will have their own starting point. When you’re ready, choose a starting point that you’re comfortable with and build up gradually.

If you would like to speak to our dual qualified accredited exercise physiologist and credentialled diabetes educator, Dr Marian Brennan PhD about starting or increasing your physical activity, visit Perth Physical Activity and Diabetes Institute (www.perthpadi.com).