November is Diabetes Awareness Month.

Physical activity is an important part of managing Type 2 diabetes. If you or someone you know is pre-diabetic or has diabetes, it is important to stay active.

If a physical activity routine is new for you, here are a few important tips to get you started:

Talk to your doctor. For almost anyone, starting a new active lifestyle is not a problem. However, if you have pre-diabetes or are a diabetic, you may also have heart problems. It is important that you talk to your doctor. It is always best to get your doctor’s okay before you start an exercise program.

Do something you enjoy. If you are told that you need to start a walking program but do not like to walk, how long do you think you’ll stick to it? Right, probably not very long. If you are not sure what you like to do, talk to other people and check out what they do.

Start slow. Even though it is recommended that you should do 30 minutes of exercise a day, at least five days a week, if you are just beginning, that can be hard. Start slow by just doing an activity for 10 minutes, three times a week. You can build up to five days and then start adding time to your activity.

Find a buddy or join a group. Most of us find it hard to stay active when we have to do it by ourselves all the time. Find a friend to exercise with you or join a group.

Find other ways to be active all day long. Think of ways you can be active all through the day; like parking farther from the door of the store or take the stairs instead of the elevator.

It is important to add physical activity to your day. Not only will you feel better, but it will help prevent diabetes if you are pre-diabetic or control your diabetes if you already have it.

For more information on diabetes contact the Clark County Extension Office at 744-4682.