Treating And Managing Metabolic Syndrome

Sustainable Exercise Regime

Studies have shown exercise makes the body more responsive to insulin, increasing insulin sensitivity and decreasing blood glucose. Thus, developing a sustainable exercise regime can help individuals at risk for metabolic syndrome to lower their risk, and patients with the disease can also improve their quality of life and potentially reverse some of their symptoms with exercise. In one study, a single exercise session was shown to increase the body's response to insulin for up to sixteen hours after the exercise session. However, for exercise to have a lasting impact on a patient's insulin sensitivity, it is essential for it to be done regularly. Patients with metabolic syndrome should try to build a sustainable exercise regime of exercises they enjoy.

The American Heart Association recommends patients do a minimum of 150 minutes of exercise each week. Moderate and vigorous exercise have both been shown to have beneficial effects. Moderate activity elevates an individual's heart rate to fifty to seventy percent of their maximum heart rate. During vigorous activity, an individual's heart rate will reach between seventy to eighty-five percent of their maximum heart rate. The combination of aerobic exercises such as walking or running with strength training exercises using weights or elastic bands has been shown to be especially effective for controlling metabolic syndrome.

Prevent Development Of Type 2 Diabetes

Since insulin has such a central role in metabolic syndrome, taking steps to prevent the development of type 2 diabetes is essential in the prevention of metabolic syndrome. Similar lifestyle factors influence both of these diseases and maintaining a healthy weight and blood pressure, avoiding smoking, limiting alcohol, and eating a diet rich in fiber, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can decrease an individual's risk of both conditions.

Limiting fast food, sugary drinks, processed meats, and diet sodas enables individuals to better manage blood sugar numbers. Patients who have a family history of diabetes or who are newly diagnosed diabetics often benefit from nutrition counseling, and medications can help with blood sugar control as well.