Regular exercise and a healthy diet are the foundation of diabetes management and require long‑term adherence.
Exercise helps improve cardiorespiratory endurance, increase energy, enhance blood glucose control, reduce insulin resistance, optimize lipid profiles, lower blood pressure, and maintain a healthy body weight.
Exercise should be suspended in cases of severe hypoglycemia, diabetic ketoacidosis, proliferative retinopathy, etc.When blood pressure is ≥ 160/100 mmHg, moderate‑to‑high intensity exercise is prohibited.
Adult patients with type 2 diabetes should perform at least 150 minutes per week of moderate‑intensity aerobic exercise (e.g., 5 days a week, 30 minutes per session).Moderate intensity is defined as 50%–70% of maximum heart rate — feeling somewhat exertional, with increased but not breathless heart rate and breathing.
A healthy diet helps maintain or improve quality of life, and prevents or treats both acute and chronic diabetic complications.
All diabetic patients who are overweight or obese should adjust their lifestyle, control total energy intake, and achieve at least 5% weight loss.
People with diabetes should choose appropriate types and amounts of exercise based on their individual condition,and follow a dietary principle of low sugar, low fat, and high dietary fiber.