8) Physical Activity

Topic For The Week

DSMES - Physical Activity

Management of Type 2 Diabetes

Physical Activity and Diabetes Management

Physiology and Value of Physical Activity

Why it matters and how CHWs support patients

The Value of Physical Activity in Diabetes

Learning Objectives

GOAL: To Review and assess a patient’s Knowledge of the importance of PA CHW to: Engage Patient in Training and and understanding the value of PA Enable patients to Consistently Manage, Improve and Control their Blood Sugar for Safety and to Minimize Risks of Diabetes

Why Physical Activity Matters in Diabetes

Physical Activity:

• Helps the body use energy more efficiently.
• It supports blood sugar management and overall health.
• It can improve circulation, energy, mood, and sleep.
• Regular movement helps lower long-term health risks.

The Body During Physical Activity

• Movement requires many body systems to work together.
• The heart and lungs work harder to deliver oxygen.
• Blood flow increases to active muscles.
• The body uses more fuel for energy and removes waste more efficiently.

Brain At Rest vs Physical Activity

Effects of Walking on the Brain

• The pictures before showed the stimulation on the brain with just 20 minutes of walking
• The brain stimulation is caused by the enhanced oxygen flow to the brain,
• The increased oxygen flow to the brain, recharges the brain to learn more efficiently
• The blue (picture) indicates lower brain activity, while red indicates higher brain activity

Sympathetic vs. Parasympathetic: How the Body Responds

• The autonomic nervous system helps control automatic body functions like heart rate, breathing, and digestion.
• Sympathetic system:
• “fight, flight, or stress” response.

• Parasympathetic system:
• “rest, recover, and digest” response.

Sympathetic & Parasympathetic

Sympathetic:

• Prepares the body for flight or fight
• Regular exercise effectively calms the overactive sympathetic system
• A branch of the autonomic nervous system that increases energy expenditure

Parasympathetic:

• State of calm and relaxation
• Responsible for rest and digest functions in the body
• A branch of the autonomic nervous system that conserves energy

Sympathetic & Parasympathetic

Physical Activity, the Brain, and Stress

• Ongoing stress and anxiety can keep the body in a more activated sympathetic state.
• This can make it harder for a person to feel calm, motivated, rested, and ready to manage diabetes.
• Depression may also reduce energy, motivation, and confidence to stay active or follow a routine.

• For many patients, even small steps like walking can be a helpful starting point.

Physical Activity (PA)

Understanding the Value

Physical Activity (PA)

SYSTEMS:

• Movement requires a coordinated response of multiple organ systems
• During PA all physiologic systems undergo specific adaptations
• These adaptations including increased bone mineral density are coordinated and responsible for health promotion
• The cardiovascular system plays a crucial role during exercise

The Physiology of PA

• The effects of Physical Activity (PA) involves multiple systems
• The systems work together to increase efficiency
• The body adapts during PA by enhancing how well it delivers oxygen, nutrients to muscles, removes waste products, and regulates temperatures

The Physiology of PA Cont.

• How can we optimize success for PA?
• Comfortable shoes and clothing- regulate temperature
• Proper nutrients- a snack prior to PA if PA to last longer than 30 minutes

Benefits of PA

• Improvements in respiratory, cardiovascular, and nervous systems as well as metabolic changes
• Respiratory: increased breathing depth and rate increased oxygen intake and removes carbon dioxide (CO2); the lungs efficiently exchanges CO2 between blood and surrounding air

Benefits: Cardiovascular

• Heart rate increase, delivering oxygen and nutrients to muscle more efficiently
• Blood vessels dilate – widen, increasing blood flow to those areas

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Metabolic System

• PA results in increased metabolism
• Your body uses more fuel – (carbohydrates) for energy and waste products are removed more efficiently
• Hormones like adrenalin and cortisol help regulate energy use and mobilize nutrients

Physical Activity (PA)

CHW Role

The CHW role

• Assess what the patient already knows.
• Explain benefits in simple, patient-friendly language.
• Help identify barriers to being active.
• Support one realistic activity goal.
• Encourage follow-up and consistency.

Helping Patients Succeed With Physical Activity

• Start small and build consistency.
• Choose simple activities such as walking.
• Wear comfortable shoes and clothing.
• Plan ahead for longer activity sessions.
• Focus on realistic routines, not perfection.

Summary

Summary

• Physical activity supports diabetes management and whole-body health.
• Small amounts of regular movement still matter.
• Benefits include improved circulation, energy, mood, sleep, and weight control.
• CHWs help patients turn physical activity into a routine.