The Loop
How golf keeps diabetes in check
If you have Type I or Type II diabetes, consider walking when you play. According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetics experience significant drops in blood-glucose levels when performing any activity for more than 20 minutes at a heart rate between 60 and 70 percent of its maximum beats per minute. That rate varies based on age and overall health, but for a 50-year-old, figure about 115-120 beats per minute. Since golf typically lasts more than four hours, golfers quickly reach this zone while walking and then easily maintain it. In fact, many diabetics need to reduce the amount of insulin or diabetes medications they take before, during or after playing golf because of the duration of the activity.
Ron Kaspriske is the fitness editor of Golf Digest.
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