Rehabilitation in diabetic patients

Physical activity is very important for diabetic patients. In normal subjects physical activity postpones diabetes mellitus and in diabetic patients postpones the cardiovascular complications. In diabetic patients with cardiovascular disease, physical training increases exercise capacity, decreases complications and prolongs survival. Physical activity can be applied in diabetic patients as physical activity counseling or physical training, the second being recommended to be ambulatory and supervised but, sometimes, also home rehabilitation can be useful. Aerobic exercises, but also resistance exercises will be applied for a 30-60 min duration at least 3x/ week, recommended 5x/ week, and optimal every day. Some specific aspects of diabetic patients as hyper or hypoglycemia, autonomic or peripheral neuropathy, retinopathy, have to be considered during physical rehabilitation and sometimes physical training has to be modulated according to them. In conclusion, physical activity and training represent a real chance for every diabetic patient and has to be recommended and applied in all of them.