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When exercise turns tricky

That exercise is beneficial for diabetics is not news. However, exercise can be a tricky thing when your body is hosting an anarchic dance between blood sugar, drugs and insulin. And not all exercises are for every diabetic.

Diabetes stamps its mark on virtually every organ in the body and can put limitations on activity. For example, coronary artery disease (CAD) is common in longstanding diabetics; overly strenuous exercise, when you have unrecognised and untreated CAD, can precipitate chest pain, heart rhythm abnormality or even a heart attack.

Retinal abnormalities are also more likely in diabetics. Such people are at risk for retinal and vitreous bleeds and retinal detachment when they do strenuous activity like lifting weights or exercises that involves breath holding.

Pre-exercise assessment is vital for all diabetics before they take up a new programme of exercise activity. This evaluation must include a neurological examination to detect peripheral nerve damage, a retinal exam and cardiac evaluation. Some might even need an exercise stress test to detect hidden cardiac disease.

RAJIV M

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