Since then, the long-term impact of exercise has also been investigated. Studies have proven that HbA1C levels improve when regular exercise is performed 10,11,12 and that some factors involved in diabetic complications can be positively impacted. Athletes regularly monitor heart rate to achieve maximum training effectiveness, avoid injury, and ultimately improve performance. Heart rate provides a n indirect measurement of how much oxygen the body is consuming for the production of energy, known as oxygen uptake or VO 2. Exercising within a certain heart rate range provides the most beneficial effects.
Ranges vary depending on an individuals goals and limitations.
While exercise is accepted as an important component in diabetes control, the presence of diabetes complications requires certain precautions. Because of the prevalence of cardiac disease in the diabetic population, heart rate should be closely monitored. In a supervised session, trained clinical exercise physiologists can measure the heart rate by a variety of means and then set the exercise workload accordingly. Patients exercising on their own may not be able to do so. For example, the presence of diabetic neuropathy inhibits pulse taking because of the loss of the feeling at the fingertips.