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Exercise Tips
Just 30 minutes a day of activity can help lower your blood sugar levels. You can even do it in three 10-minute bursts.
You should first talk to your doctor about which physical activities are right for you. Remember to check your blood sugar before, during and after you exercise.
Walking
Perhaps the cheapest and easiest way to get started on a fitness routine is to get walking.
Take a tour at: www.americaonthemove.org and take that extra step.
- Walk around the block once before getting the mail.
- Walk to your neighbor’s house instead of phoning.
- Use the stairs instead of taking the elevator.
- Walk for 10 minutes during your lunch break.
Here’s the number of calories you may burn with 30 minutes of walking:
If you weigh: 150 lbs.............155 calories
If you weigh: 200 lbs.............207 calories
Dancing
Dancing is a fun and social way to stay active. Call your local community center and ask if they offer classes.
- Turn on your favorite song and start swinging.
- Show everybody how you can cut a rug.
- Sign up for ballroom dancing, tap or jazz classes.
Here’s the number of calories you may burn with 30 minutes of dancing:
If you weigh: 150 lbs............150 calories
If you weigh: 200 lbs............180 calories
Gardening
Gardening, which involves squatting, lifting and digging, can help you stay active.
- Weed the beds or lay sod.
- Mow the grass or rake the leaves.
- Plant a flower or vegetable garden.
Here’s the number of calories you may burn with 30 minutes of gardening:
If you weigh: 150 lbs............157 calories
If you weigh: 200 lbs............210 calories
Yoga
Wide-Legged Forward Bend
- Stand two feet in front of chair, with feet as wide as comfortable.
- Turn toes slightly inward and contract leg muscles, keeping legs straight.
- Bend forward from hips, keeping back straight, and place hands on back of chair.
- Keeping head in line with spine, hold for 20 seconds.
Calf Stretch
- Start on all fours, hands beneath shoulders and knees beneath hips.
- Bring left knee to chest and then extend leg behind you, placing toes on floor.
- Shift left foot forward an inch and then press left heel back as if you are trying to touch it to the floor (it won’t reach).
- Hold for 20 seconds, return to all fours and repeat with right leg.
Please see important safety information below for Avandia, Avandamet and Avandaryl, including who should not take Avandia, Avandamet or Avandaryl. See also link to Medication Guide for Avandia and links to Patient Information Leaflets for Avandamet and Avandaryl.
Prescription Avandia, along with diet and exercise, helps improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes. Taking Avandia with insulin or nitrates is not recommended.
Avandia can cause or worsen heart failure. If you have severe heart failure (very poor pumping ability of the heart) you cannot be started on Avandia. Avandia is also not recommended if you have heart failure with symptoms (such as shortness of breath or swelling) even if these symptoms are not severe.
Avandia may increase your risk of other heart problems that occur when there is reduced blood flow to the heart, such as chest pain (angina) or heart attack (myocardial infarction). This risk appeared higher in patients taking medicines called nitrates or insulin.
If you have chest pain or a feeling of chest pressure, you should seek immediate medical attention, regardless of what diabetes medicines you are taking. If you take Avandia tell your doctor right away if you: have swollen legs or ankles, a rapid increase in weight or difficulty breathing, or unusual tiredness; experience changes in vision; become pregnant.
Before taking Avandia, review your medical history and tell your doctor if you:
- Have heart failure or other heart problems, or are on any medicines for high blood pressure, high cholesterol or heart failure, or for prevention of heart disease or stroke.
- Take insulin or nitrate medicines.
- Have a type of diabetic eye disease called macular edema.
- Have liver problems or had liver problems while taking REZULIN®(troglitazone).
- Are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
- Are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed.
Women taking Avandia should know that Avandia may increase the risk of pregnancy. More fractures have been observed in women taking Avandia. Other possible side effects of Avandia include anemia and hypoglycemia. Your doctor should do blood tests to check your liver before you start Avandia and during treatment as needed.
For more information about Avandia, please see Medication Guide. For further information on Avandia, please see full Prescribing Information.
Avandamet, along with diet and exercise, helps improve blood sugar control in patients with type 2 diabetes. It is a combination of two drugs - rosiglitazone maleate and metformin HCl.
Avandamet can cause or worsen heart failure. If you have severe heart failure (very poor pumping ability of the heart), you cannot be started on Avandamet. Avandamet is also not recommended if you have heart failure with symptoms (such as shortness of breath or swelling) even if these symptoms are not severe.
Rosiglitazone, a component of Avandamet, may increase your risk of other heart problems that occur when there is reduced blood flow to the heart, such as chest pain (angina) or heart attack (myocardial infarction). This risk appeared higher in patients taking medicines called nitrates or insulin. Taking rosiglitazone with insulin or with nitrates is not recommended.
If you have chest pain or a feeling of chest pressure, you should seek immediate medical attention, regardless of what diabetes medicines you are taking.
A small number of people who have taken metformin, one of the components of Avandamet, have developed a rare yet serious condition called lactic acidosis (a buildup of lactic acid in the blood). Lactic acidosis occurs most often in people with kidney problems and can be fatal in up to one half of the cases. You should not take Avandamet if you have kidney problems. Tests should be used to check your kidneys before and while taking Avandamet. You should not drink alcohol excessively when taking Avandamet. If you are taking medicines for heart failure, you may be at increased risk of lactic acidosis.
If you take Avandamet, tell your doctor right away if you:
- Have swollen legs or ankles, a rapid increase in weight or difficulty breathing, or unusual tiredness
- Experience changes in vision
- Become pregnant
Review your medical history and tell your doctor if you:
- Have heart failure or other heart problems
- Have liver problems or liver disease
- Are pregnant or are nursing
Women taking Avandamet should know that Avandamet may increase the risk of pregnancy
More fractures have been observed in women taking Avandamet.
For more information about Avandamet, please see Patient Information. For further information on Avandamet, please see full Prescribing Information.
Avandaryl, along with diet and exercise, helps improve blood sugar control in patients with type 2 diabetes. Avandaryl is a combination of two drugs - rosiglitazone maleate and glimepiride.
Avandaryl can cause or worsen heart failure. If you have severe heart failure (very poor pumping ability of the heart), you cannot be started on Avandaryl. Avandaryl is also not recommended if you have heart failure with symptoms (such as shortness of breath or swelling) even if these symptoms are not severe.
Rosiglitazone, a component of Avandaryl, may increase your risk of other heart problems that occur when there is reduced blood flow to the heart, such as chest pain (angina) or heart attack (myocardial infarction). This risk appeared higher in patients taking medicines called nitrates or insulin. Taking rosiglitazone with insulin or with nitrates is not recommended.
If you have chest pain or a feeling of chest pressure, you should seek immediate medical attention, regardless of what diabetes medicines you are taking.
Avandaryl may cause low blood sugar. Lightheadedness, dizziness, shakiness or hunger may mean that your blood sugar is too low. If you have kidney problems, you may need a lower dose of Avandaryl to reduce problems with low blood sugar. Talk to your doctor if low blood sugar is a problem for you.
If you take Avandaryl, tell your doctor right away if you:
- Have swollen legs or ankles, a rapid increase in weight or difficulty breathing, or unusual tiredness
- Experience changes in vision
- Become pregnant
Review your medical history and tell your doctor if you:
- Have heart failure or other heart problems
- Have liver problems or liver disease
- Are pregnant or are nursing
Women taking Avandaryl should know that Avandaryl may increase the risk of pregnancy
More fractures have been observed in women taking Avandaryl .
For more information about Avandaryl, please see Patient Information. For further information on Avandaryl, please see full Prescribing Information.
