Vanderbilt Diabetes

Aerobic exercise helps improve glycemic control and helps you maintain a healthy weight. How much aerobic exercise should you do?

We recommend at least:

• 150 minutes per week (or 30 minutes, 5 times a week) of moderate-intensity physical activity or
• 90 minutes a week (or 30 minutes, 3 times a week) of vigorous aerobic activity.

Click here to read a journal article from the American Diabetes Association about the importance of aerobic exercise.

Why Strength Training?

Strength training can:

• increase your body's bone mass
• increase your connective tissue strength
• increase your muscle strength and mass
• improve your ability to perform certain tasks
• improve your metabolic rate
• prevent injury
• help you recovery from an injury

To build strength and endurance, do 8-10 exercises that train your major muscle groups. Maintain normal breathing patterns as you do these exercises. We recommend that you do:

• 1-3 sets, 10-15 repetitions of each, 2-3 days a week.

Many people find it more helpful to have a training partner.