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Diabetes Guernsey has teamed up with personal trainer Andy Perkins, to deliver a free eight-week exercise course for people with any type of diabetes and of all fitness levels at the outdoor gym at Saumarez Park.
There are six weeks left on the exercise course, classes are run on Saturday mornings from 10:00am to 11:00am.
Exercise is a big part of leading a healthy lifestyle and its benefits cannot be overstated for those with diabetes.
Andy Perkins, personal trainer, says: ‘Exercise helps control weight, lower blood pressure, lower harmful LDL cholesterol and raise healthy HDL cholesterol while strengthening muscles and bones and improving general well-being.
‘The goal with these fitness sessions in conjunction with Diabetes Guernsey is to offer people with diabetes and relaxed, social environment to exercise in order to help improve their health and manage their diabetes effectively.’
These sessions aim to help people gain control of their health while providing an environment that allows people with diabetes to meet and support each other.
Steph Black, Co-Chair of Diabetes Guernsey, comments: ‘We know from experience that having diabetes can be isolating and frustrating. These classes not only provide people with a way to help manage the diabetes but also a place to make friends and build a support network.
‘We hope that people with diabetes take advantage of these free workout sessions, it’s only an hour a week and it could really help.’
Now that the weather is brightening up it’s hoped more people will head down to the park at the weekends and take part.
Sakib Rahman attended the first couple of sessions and said: ‘These free exercise classes are great, a big thank you to Andy Perkins and Diabetes Guernsey. It was a great workout and woke up muscles that I didn’t think I had. I’m looking forward to the next session already.
‘I’d seriously recommend these classes, they’re fun and you walk away feeling great.’
Those attending are asked to bring any medication / hypo kit with them along with a water bottle and a towel if needed. Please, ensure that you wear appropriate clothing and footwear.
If you’d like more information about the exercise classes head to the charity’s website www.diabetesguernsey.org and Facebook page. The charity asks that you to register your interest for the classes via the Eventbrite page, just so that they can gauge numbers: https://bit.ly/3g7rwJ6
Pictured top: Sakib Rahman (left) and personal trainer Andy Perkins (right)
