Exercise and Blood Glucose Controlling diabetes means keeping a balance in what you eat, the medicines you take (if any) and exercising. The goal is to keep your blood glucose (sugar) as normal as possible. Exercise makes your insulin work harder. So, before you start an exercise program, check with your doctor. Your exercising should be part of a planned program that fits in with your diet and medicines. It is best to exercise about 1 – 3 hours after you have eaten. Because exercising can lower your blood sugar, you need to: • check your blood sugar before you exercise • watch for signs of low blood sugar as you exercise • be ready to check your blood glucose during exercise • check your blood glucose after you exercise Know when not to exercise, too
• I t is best not to exercise when your insulin is peaking (at its strongest). This can help you avoid low blood sugar. • If your blood sugar is over 300 mg/dl it may be unwise to exercise at all. If you want to try to exercise anyway, walk for 20 minutes and see if your blood sugars go up or down. If up, stop! Check with your doctor about this. • If your blood sugar is 100 mg/dl or lower, you need to eat a carbohydrate snack before you exercise. • If you have type 1 diabetes and your blood glucose is 250 mg/dl or higher, test for ketones. If you show moderate or large amounts of ketones, do not exercise. Copyright © 2001-2014 Pritchett & Hull Associates, Inc. DO NOT DUPLICATE.
Pritchett & Hull Associates, Inc. ®
Bringing Patients & Health Together
Atlanta, GA
800-241-4925
Product # 395
Exercise and Blood Glucose Learn what effect your exercises have on your blood sugar. Blood sugar can be affected for several hours after you exercise. Because you have diabetes, exercising may add a few more steps to your routine. But once you get into the habit of taking these steps, they will be part of your exercise routine, the same as warming up and cooling down. The benefits you get from exercising will be worth the effort.
Know the symptoms of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) Low blood sugar is caused by too much insulin in your blood and not enough glucose (sugar). You may feel some symptoms as soon as your blood sugar gets down to 70 mg/dl. Or you may not feel any symptoms until your blood sugar goes down to 30 mg/dl. Know these symptoms and at what level you may have them: • feeling nervous or shaky • being dizzy
• being too hungry
• feeling weak
• sweating more than usual
• feeling confused
Know how to treat low blood sugar When you begin to feel symptoms, treat your low blood sugar quickly. Eat or drink something that has sugar in it. These may include: • hard candy —
eat several •
1 ⁄2
cup of non-diet soda
• a glass of milk • 3 or 4 glucose tablets or gels (you can get these at a drug store)
• 1 ⁄2 cup of orange juice Be prepared to treat low blood sugar. When you exercise, have some of these items with you, just in case. Pritchett & Hull Associates, Inc. ®
Bringing Patients & Health Together
Atlanta, GA
800-241-4925
Always wear identification (ID).
Copyright © 2001-2014 Pritchett & Hull Associates, Inc. DO NOT DUPLICATE.