Type 2 diabetes is the fastest growing chronic disease in the United States. Although the exact cause of the condition characterized by high blood sugar levels is still unknown, genetic factors, weight issues and physical inactivity have been shown to contribute to its onset and progression.
A bellicon® workout provides the kind of aerobic exercise that helps to prevent diabetes and reduce its symptoms. Whether you’re a diabetic who takes insulin or not, bouncing on a mini trampoline assists in regulating your levels of the hormone by lowering blood sugar and increasing your cells’ ability to absorb glucose – both during and after your routine. In fact, this effect lasts for up to 24 hours. A fun daily workout on the bellicon® is the natural way to keep your blood sugar in check.
It’s estimated that 23.6 million people in the United States have diabetes, which is about 7.8% of the U.S. population. Even more disturbing is the dramatic growth of type 2 diabetes among children and young adults. Once called “adult onset diabetes,” type 2 diabetes increased by 30% within the youth population between 2001 and 2009 alone.
Not only is diabetes widespread, but there are millions more with undiagnosed diabetes as well as “pre-diabetes.” According to the American Diabetes Association, "Pre-diabetes is a condition that occurs when a person's blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes,” and may effect as many as 54 million additional people in the United States.
As troubling as these statistics are, the good news is that you can do a lot to prevent diabetes or control its symptoms. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Participants in one large study who lost a modest amount of weight — around 7 percent of initial body weight — and exercised regularly reduced the risk of developing diabetes by almost 60 percent.” The right kind of exercise and a proper diet can make an enormous difference in your health, vitality, and quality of life.
Diabetes in England: Percentage of GP patients aged 17+ with diabetes 2012-13
Source: NHS England, Quality and Outcomes Framework, 2012-2013
A moderate-intensity, low-impact bellicon workout is the safest, most beneficial type of cardiovascular exercise for just about everyone, but for people with diabetes it has even greater benefits. If exercise becomes too intense, it’s recognized by our bodies as stress, and hormones instruct our bodies to increase blood sugar levels to provide added fuel for muscles, which is something that diabetics need to avoid.
People with diabetes are also prone to vascular damage in their eyes (retinopathy) and nerve damage in their feet (peripheral neuropathy), which can be brought on by high-impact exercise. A gentle, yet highly effective rebounding session on the bellicon will help you to keep healthy, fit and injury-free.
Of course, the health benefits of rebounding for diabetics don’t end there. You’ll also be lowering your chances of heart disease and stroke, burning calories to control your weight, improving balance, boosting energy levels and sleeping better. The bellicon® may also be the world’s best exercise for preventing or halting the progression of osteoporosis, another diabetes-related condition.
If you have health issues that affect your ability to exercise, be sure to talk to your physician or healthcare provider before beginning any new exercise program. This is particularly important for people with diabetes, since the disease, its side-effects and its treatment can vary so much from person to person.
In general, if you have diabetes, remember to monitor your blood sugar levels before, during and after exercise to make sure they don’t get too high or too low.
