It's hard as I get older... Should I cut down on exercising now?

Kim (68), who suffers from chronic renal failure due to diabetes, has been exercising for two hours a day, hiking or running on a treadmill, since being diagnosed with renal failure three years ago. However, now that he is older, exercising is tiring and difficult. During a hospital visit, Kim said, "My glycated hemoglobin is well-managed at 6.4, and I take insulin once in the morning," and asked, "Can't I do a little less strenuous exercise now?" The doctor responded, "If you use insulin and your blood sugar is well-controlled, exercising too much can actually lead to hypoglycemia. It would be okay to reduce the amount of exercise a little."

For people with diabetes, preventing hyperglycemia is crucial, but so is preventing hypoglycemia. In Kim's case, considering factors like kidney complications and age, careful attention is needed to ensure that excessive exercise doesn't lead to hypoglycemia. If exercise becomes too strenuous, she can reduce the duration or intensity of the exercise, adjust her diet, or consult with her doctor to adjust her medication.

 

Especially for elderly diabetic patients, it is better to adjust the intensity of exercise by walking in place with knees raised or lifting dumbbells whenever watching TV indoors rather than engaging in strenuous exercise such as hiking or working out.

 

You can walk around the house or use indoor exercise equipment like a stationary bike.

 

It is generally recommended that people with diabetes engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week.

 

Moderate intensity exercise is defined as exercise that makes your heart beat slightly faster or your breathing slightly faster.

 

It's hard to breathe, but it's strong enough to still be able to have a conversation with the person next to you.

 

It is important to do it at least three days a week and not to take more than two consecutive days off.

 

Meanwhile, some patients think, "If I wear an insulin pump, I don't have to exercise." While using an insulin pump offers the advantage of more flexible blood sugar control based on lifestyle and blood sugar levels, it's not a panacea. Wearing one doesn't mean you can be less strict with your diet or exercise less.

 

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Rather than high intensity exercise

Indoor exercise or walking can also help.