A diabetic patient wants to consult a doctor guide him to reach his destination (road map)
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As an individual with diabetes or prediabetes, you are probably recommended by your doctor and your medical team to add exercise to your diabetes management routine.
But if you have not exercise for a long time, you may lack the motivation to begin an exercise routine. At the same time, you may feel hesitant to invest in expensive exercise equipment or apply for a gym membership. According to statistics, most people fail to make it past the 5-month mark after they join a gym. If these are the main factors that have been preventing from exercising and becoming more physically healthy, hiking may be your solution.
Although you may see hiking as a treacherous sport where courageous individuals haul their gigantic backpacks up to the Himalayas, this is the extreme side of hiking. In reality, hiking is a great sport that can be enjoyed by almost everyone. To better explain how hiking can be the perfect exercise for you, this article will cover this array of topics:
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Can Diabetic and Prediabetic Individuals Go On Hiking Trips?
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In general, hiking is not a difficult sport. It is suitable for people of all ages whether they are physically fit or unfit. Anyone at any age can pick up this sport by simply putting on a pair of hiking shoes and start walking. For prediabetic and diabetic individuals, any form of exercise can greatly help with managing blood glucose level by increasing insulin sensitivity and carbohydrate metabolism for up to 24 hours or after you exercise. For individuals who are out of shape, hiking is extremely beneficial as it is a great way to start exercising and losing weight. Depending on the individual’s weight and walking speed, a person can burn up to 240 calories by hiking at 2 miles per hour. For individuals who are prone to hypoglycemia, hiking is less vigorous than some other exercises and is less likely to drastically change the blood glucose level. It is actually a recommended exercise activity for many diabetic individuals who suffer from various diabetes complications such as heart disease, high blood pressure, nephropathy, and arthritis.
For women who have a family history of diabetes, hiking 4 hours a week on average can help reduce the risk of gestational diabetes by as much as 70% as well as other pregnancy complications. It has proven to be a great treatment for women who suffer from gestation diabetes to manage hyperglycemia.
Although hiking can be beneficial for diabetic and prediabetic individuals, each person has his or her physical challenges and needs. Before you engage in any hiking activities, you should consult with your doctor and your medical team on how hiking can affect your blood glucose level, your medication dosage, and your complications.