Image of senior woman receiving physical therapy from therapist on exercise mat

A panel of experts has published guidance on safe rehabilitation exercises for cardiac patients with diabetes.

The recommendations, approved by international diabetes organizations, focus on the management of blood sugar levels, with the goal of reducing the risk of acute glycemic problems during therapy. “The aim is to give more confidence to patients with diabetes, making them more likely to do the rehabilitation exercises and keep at it,” the international group said in a Thursday statement.

The authors covers topics such as:

  • Interactions between common drugs used in both cardiovascular disease and diabetes;
  • The best types of exercise for these patients, including ideal intensity level, and the safest times of day; and
  • Unique requirements for patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Fully a fourth of people currently participating in cardiac rehabilitation in Europe, North America and Australia have diabetes. And the number is increasing, in part due to common risk factors for both diseases, especially obesity and sedentary lifestyles, the group reported.