There are benefits that are even more specific to diabetes management. Some of these are the increased sensitivity of the cell-receptor site to insulin. This sensitivity is noted as a decline in blood-glucose levels due to the improved use of insulin by the cells. The result is a reduction in the total insulin needed. Some look at exercise as having a possible effect on the length of beta-cell function, especially for those with Type 2 diabetes and those with newly diagnosed Type 1 diabetes mellitus.
Aerobic exercise can be low, moderate, or severe in intensity.
The major fuels used for aerobic exercise are glucose and free fatty acids. Good aerobic exercises are swimming, walking, rowing, cycling, and dancing. Therefore, walking or other low-impact aerobic exercise is recommended. For an exercise to be aerobic, the heart rate must be at least 50 percent above the resting heart rate. The ceiling level is 75 to 80 percent.