Introduction 1
About This Book 1
Foolish Assumptions 2
Icons Used in This Book 2
Beyond the Book 3
Where to Go from Here 4
Part 1: Getting Started with Diabetes 5
Chapter 1: Getting an Overview of Diabetes 7
Knowing Your Risks for Diabetes 8
Understanding the Culprits: Glucose and Insulin 8
Navigating the Types of Diabetes 11
Diagnosing Diabetes or Prediabetes 14
Self-Monitoring Your Blood Glucose 18
Using a Blood Glucose Meter 19
Discovering Why Being Fit with Diabetes Matters 22
Chapter 2: Managing Health and Diabetes Fitness 25
Knowing the Importance of Getting Moving 26
Understanding How Exercise and Food Affect Your Body with Diabetes 26
Uncovering More about Fitness and Aging 29
Investigating the Impact of Fitness and Other Factors on Deciding When to Consult with Your Doctor First 33
Setting Diabetes, Health, and Fitness Goals 34
Surveying Cardiovascular Risks That May Limit Exercise 38
Living Long and Well with Diabetes or Prediabetes 39
Chapter 3: Understanding Diabetes Medications 41
Knowing How Oral Diabetes Medications Work 41
Using (Non-Insulin) Injected Medication 45
Changing Doses for Exercise 46
Understanding Insulin Use 49
Monitoring Effects of Other Medications 57
Part 2: Mastering Exercise and Nutrition Basics 61
Chapter 4: Finding Out How Exercise Works 63
Knowing How Hormones React 64
Engaging Your Exercise Energy Systems 66
Using Carbohydrate and Fat as Fuels 70
Predicting Your Usual Glucose Response 71
Factoring in Exercise Variables 72
Accounting for Other Factors 80
Chapter 5: Avoiding Exercise Glucose Extremes 83
Exercising with an Ideal Blood Glucose 83
Identifying Hypoglycemia (Lows) 84
Treating and Preventing Hypoglycemia 88
Managing Hyperglycemia (Highs) and Exercise 99
Chapter 6: Eating Better for Health 103
Knowing Which Foods Make a Body Healthy 103
Getting Your Vitamins and Minerals from Foods or Supplements 117
Deciding Whether You Need Other Supplements 120
Chapter 7: Eating Right for Exercise 125
Fueling Your Body with Carbohydrates 126
Pumping Up with Protein 131
Using Fat during Exercise 133
Taking Caffeine or Drinking Coffee to Power Workouts 135
Staying Hydrated with Fluids 136
Part 3: Getting Up and Moving 139
Chapter 8: Setting the Stage for Getting Active 141
Finding the Right Activities 141
Picking Workout Clothes and Equipment 144
Staying Motivated to Be Active 146
Assessing and Overcoming Barriers 151
Debunking Common Exercise Myths 157
Chapter 9: Setting Your Workout Up for Success 161
Adding in Spontaneous Physical Activity 161
Choosing the Best Training for Diabetes 164
Warming Up and Cooling Down 171
Carving Out a Fitness Routine 171
Steering Clear of Certain Activities 173
Preventing and Managing Injuries 174
Chapter 10: Including Cardio Training 181
Getting Started with Cardio Training 182
Walking Your Way to Better Health 184
Jogging or Running Indoors or Outdoors 186
Including Some Interval Training 189
Putting Indoor Cardio Machines to Use 191
Other Activities to Get Aerobically Fit 194
Trying Easy Aerobic Activities 196
Chapter 11: Building Strength through Resistance 203
Maximizing Your Muscle Strength to Supercharge Your Health 204
Getting the Most Out of Your Resistance Training 207
Working Out the Right Way 213
Incorporating More Core Training 215
Staying Safe by Taking Precautions 217
Working Out with Easy Resistance Exercises at Home or Work 218
Chapter 12: Finding Your Balance 225
Examining the Effects of Aging and Diabetes on Balance 226
Improving Balance to Stay on Your Feet 227
Supercharging Your Balance with Anytime Exercises and Activities 229
Using Yoga or Tai Chi to Boost Flexibility, Strength, and Balance 231
Working on Balance in Your Spare Time 232
Chapter 13: Focusing on Flexibility 239
Breaking Down What Stretching Does for You 240
Stretching Effectively 242
Reviewing Muscles and Basic Stretches 242
Practicing Some Yoga Poses 245
Working on Flexibility with Some Stretching Exercises 252
Chapter 14: Mixing It Up with Cross-Training 259
Benefiting from Doing Cross-Training 259
Combining Cardio and Resistance Work to Combat Diabetes 263
CrossFit Training with Diabetes 263
Part 4: Keeping Fit at Any Age or Any Stage 265
Chapter 15: Training with Extra Body Weight 267
Limiting the Impact of Your Extra Weight Gain 268
Keeping Active to Manage Your Weight 270
Dealing with Arthritis and Other Joint Problems 272
Losing Weight and Keeping It Off 274
Avoiding Insulin Weight Gain and Using Diabetes Medications to Lose Weight 277
Considering Other Weight Loss Issues 281
Keeping Diabetes from Making You Blue 282
Getting Enough Sleep to Get Thinner 282
Chapter 16: Exercising with Health Complications 285
Dealing with Health Complications 286
Exercising Safely with Nerve Damage 286
Being Active with Vessel Disease 289
Eyeing Ways to Exercise with Retinopathy 293
Staying Active with Kidney Disease 295
Managing Exercise with Health Issues 296
Chapter 17: Being Active and Female 299
Understanding How Female Hormones Affect Insulin and Exercise 299
Staying Active During Pregnancy 301
Chapter 18: Taking Special Considerations for Kids and Seniors 305
Getting at the Root of Physical Inactivity of Today's Youth 306
Encouraging Kids to Be Active 307
Looking at Aging and Health in Seniors 311
Getting Seniors Up and Moving 315
Working Out for Your Mental Health and Function 318
Assessing How Well You're Aging, Really 320
Chapter 19: Managing Diabetes as an Athlete 323
Taking Your Activity to the Next Level 323
Carb Loading Effectively for the Athlete 326
Training Well with Low-Carb Eating 327
Troubleshooting Exercise Blood Glucose for Competitive and Serious Recreational Athletes 328
Part 5: The Part of Tens 337
Chapter 20: Ten Tips to Boost Your Overall Health 339
Get Emotionally Fit with Activity 339
Go for the Endorphin Release 340
Enjoy Higher Dopamine Levels 340
Drop Those Cortisol Levels 342
Boost Your Bodily Satisfaction 342
Listen to Your Body 343
Don't Use Poor Health or Age as an Excuse Not to Exercise 344
Tackle Health Problems Early On 344
Plan Ahead for Exercise Success 345
Know It's Never Too Late to Start Being Active 346
Chapter 21: Ten Easy Exercises to Build a Strong Core without Leaving the House 347
#1: Abdominal Squeezes 348
#2: Plank or Modified Plank 349
#3: Side Planks 349
#4: Bridging 351
#5: Pelvic Tilt 351
#6: Superhero Pose 352
#7: Knee Push-Ups 353
#8: Suitcase Lift 353
#9: Squats with Knee Squeezes 354
#10: Lunges 355
Chapter 22: Ten Ways to Get Motivated to Exercise (When You're Not) 357
Check Your Blood Glucose 358
Start with Easier Activities 358
Pick Activities You Enjoy 358
Spice It Up 359
Have a Plan B 359
Get an Exercise Buddy (or Several) 359
Schedule It 360
Set Goals and Reward Yourself 360
Take Advantage of Opportunities for Spontaneous Physical Activity 360
Take Small Steps 361
Index 363