MAY 2025: Moving Your Body, Exercise in All Seasons
Why Movement Matters
Regular physical activity helps your body use insulin better, lowers blood sugar, reduces stress, and strengthens your heart. It is one of the best diabetes “medicines” that we have. Moving for just 10-15 minutes after you eat can lower blood sugar and help with digestion.
Exercise helps blood pressure, blood sugar, blood cholesterol, constipation, sleep, arthritis, gut health, and so much more!
The goal with exercise is to do some most days of the week and get your heart beating a little bit faster for at least 20-30 minutes. Aim for 150 minutes of exercise a week, minimum.
Winter Movement Ideas
– Indoor activities: Marching in place while watching TV, dancing to music, using resistance bands or hand weights, chair exercises on Youtube.
– Traditional activities: Native dancing, ice fishing (the drilling and hauling provides good exercise), snow machining counts if you get off and walk around for 30 min to get your heart rate up, hunting is another great option.
Consider setting up a village walking group. Find some friends or family members, pick day and time each week and stick to it.
Summer Movement Ideas
– Berry picking – combines walking, stretching, and healthy food gathering
– Fishing/Hunting – provides both activity and healthy food
– Walking or hiking
Action Steps This Month:
1. Start with just 5 minutes of movement and work up to 30 minutes or more most days
2. Find a movement partner in the village for motivation
3. Track your blood sugar before and after activity to see the positive effects
DM Program Announcements:
Call and make your appointment to see our diabetes educator. When you call to schedule and complete your appointment, you will get 2 entries into our monthly drawing for great prizes! Phone # is 907-442-7455.