by Rajender
(Kuwait)
VISITOR EXPERIENCE:
By Rajender, Kuwait
I have had diabetes for several years. I walk for about 45 minutes and perform 15 minutes of strength training, giving me one hour of regular exercise. I try to use as little medication as possible and also take fenugreek powder and raw garlic. I eat nuts and fruit, my glucose is acceptable, and at age 60 I feel healthy.
Medical Perspective
Walking and resistance training strongly support glucose control, strength and heart health. Your routine is a good foundation if safe for your heart, eyes, feet and joints. The goal is not automatically the least medicine, but enough treatment to protect the heart, kidneys, eyes and nerves. Fenugreek and garlic cannot replace prescribed diabetes care.
Answer by Dr. Albana Greca, MD, MMedSc
ADA’s 2026 guidance recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous aerobic activity weekly, spread over at least three days, plus resistance exercise two or three times on nonconsecutive days.
Your walks exceed the weekly minimum if done most days. Strength training supports muscle, balance and glucose uptake, but harder sessions need recovery days.
A practical weekly pattern could be:
See our diabetes and exercise guide.
One hour daily may suit you if recovery is good, but fitness, heart health, neuropathy, retinopathy, arthritis and medicines matter. Progress gradually.
Stop and seek advice for chest pressure, unusual breathlessness, faintness, palpitations, sudden weakness or vision changes. Vigorous training may require medical review.
Exercise-related hypoglycemia is most likely with insulin or sulfonylureas and may occur during activity or hours later. Check glucose when symptoms occur or when starting a new routine.
Carry fast carbohydrate and diabetes identification. Treat glucose below 70 mg/dL with 15 grams, recheck after 15 minutes and repeat if needed.
Do not exercise during severe hypoglycemia, chest pain, acute illness, marked dehydration or a hyperglycemic crisis. If glucose is very high with ketones, vomiting, abdominal pain or deep breathing, seek urgent care rather than trying to walk it down.
Neuropathy or poor circulation may hide blisters. Check both feet daily and use well-fitting shoes and clean socks.
Stop weight-bearing exercise for an open wound, spreading redness, drainage or a hot foot. See our foot-care guide.
Healthy habits may reduce medication needs, but less medicine is not always safer. Some treatments protect the heart and kidneys beyond glucose lowering.
Adjust treatment according to HbA1c, glucose patterns, hypoglycemia risk, kidney function and cardiovascular disease. Undertreatment also causes preventable complications.
Request a medication review rather than reducing treatment alone. See our medication guide.
Some fenugreek studies suggest lower glucose, but NCCIH states that evidence is not high quality enough to establish it as diabetes treatment.
Large doses may cause diarrhea, nausea, allergy or harmful glucose lowering, especially with insulin or tablets. Products vary in strength.
Tell your clinician how much you use and do not combine herbs for “maximum results.” Read our fenugreek guide.
Garlic can be part of a healthy diet, but its small possible metabolic effects do not justify replacing established treatment.
Raw garlic may cause heartburn or nausea. Concentrated supplements can increase bleeding risk with aspirin, clopidogrel, warfarin or surgery.
Use garlic mainly as food and disclose supplements. See our garlic guide.
Whole fruit contains carbohydrate. Choose one small fruit or half a cup at a time; juice raises glucose faster.
Unsalted nuts may support fullness and heart health, but portions matter. Use a small handful. See our fruit and nuts guide.
Define “acceptable” with actual results. Track fasting, selected post-meal and exercise-related readings and review HbA1c.
Common goals are 80–130 mg/dL before meals and below 180 mg/dL afterward, but targets differ. Blood pressure, cholesterol, kidneys, eyes and feet still need review.
This experience does not replace individualized medical guidance.
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