Physical Activity

• The Health Education Authority recommends that people have 30 minutes of moderate physical exercise/activity on at least 5 days of the week (i.e. brisk walking)
• Increased activity improves health and wellbeing
• Patients should be advised to build up to this target gradually over many weeks
• Suggest to your patient ways of including activity in their daily routine i.e. going up and down stairs twice instead of once, walking to the TV not using the remote to change chanels, marching on the spot whilst watching your favourite soap opera on TV
• Moderate activity is recommended people can gauge this by having a slightly raised heart rate and being slightly out of breath
• Activity includes household chores, brisk walking, swimming, dancing various sports
• If physical activity is less than 30 minutes 5 x per week of vigorous cardiovascular; support/educate patient to engage in exercise plan
• A discussion of regular exercise in a way appropriate to the patient should be encouraged at the annual review.
• Investigate any potential barriers to exercise
• Physical activity for those taking insulin and/or insulin secretagogues there is a  possibility that blood glucose levels will fall too low with activity. The patient should be advised to adjust their medication or eat/drink extra carbohydrate prior to activity.