It’s likely you’ve heard of the condition diabetes mellitus (DM). It’s also likely you know someone with diabetes, as it is estimated that 1.2 million Australians live with the condition (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, self-reported data 2017-2018).

It’s important for everyone to exercise regularly and live a healthy lifestyle, but today we’re going to focus on why that is important specifically for those with diabetes, and explain how a physiotherapist has a key role in helping to manage the condition.

Diabetes, what is it exactly?

Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects the way the body processes blood sugar, known as glucose. For your body to work properly, you need to maintain a healthy level of glucose in your blood. Your body has an organ called the pancreas, which releases a hormone called insulin to help regulate blood glucose. Diabetes causes the body to not produce enough insulin, or respond normally to insulin, which...