What exercise precautions do I need to take if I have type 1 diabetes?
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Stacy Wiegman answered:Exercise can lower your blood sugar, both during your activity and for up to 12 hours after it. If you have type 1 diabetes, you'll need to monitor your blood sugar levels so you take the right amount of insulin at the right time. The first step is to talk to your doctor about exercise to make sure there aren't any medical limitations to the kind of exercise you can do.
Walking at a brisk pace is a good exercise for many. Wear a bracelet or necklace that says you have diabetes, carry fast-acting carbs and have emergency numbers with you. Drink plenty of water. Try to get in the habit of exercising at the same time of day, for about the same amount of time, at about the same intensity. That can make your blood sugar easier to control. Check your blood sugar before you exercise and right after you exercise. If you'll be exercising for longer than 45 minutes, check it during exercise, too. If you have any questions, talk to a healthcare professional, such as a diabetes educator.
Exercise can lower your blood sugar, both during your activity and for up to 12 hours after it. If you have type 1 diabetes, you'll need to monitor your blood sugar levels so you take the right amount of insulin at the right time. The first... More -
American Diabetes Association answered:You need to take special precautions when you exercise. You want to make sure that your blood glucose levels don’t drop too far too fast. This can also happen in the hours after exercise, although this is more common in people with type 1 diabetes. This is when your muscles take glucose from the blood to restore their glucose reserves. So even if your glucose level seems on target right after exercising, don’t assume it will stay that way during the hours following your workout. It’s a good idea to check blood glucose levels several hours after exercise as well.
On the other hand, if you have type 1 diabetes and your blood glucose levels are too high (over 250 mg/dl) when you exercise, activity may cause your blood glucose level to go up rather than down. Hard exercise with too little insulin can make the liver release stored glucose. If you have type 1 diabetes and your blood glucose is greater than 250 mg/dl, test your urine for ketones. Do not exercise if significant ketones are present. Use caution if your blood glucose is greater than 300 mg/dl, even if no ketones are present. Ask your health care team for guidelines about exercise and blood glucose levels.
You need to take special precautions when you exercise. You want to make sure that your blood glucose levels don’t drop too far too fast. This can also happen in the hours after exercise, although this is more common in people with type 1... More -
Dr. Charles Sophy answered:Avoid heavy weight-lifting. If you have diabetic eye problems, lifting heavy weights can put extra pressure on the blood vessels in your eyes.
Avoid high-impact exercises. If nerve damage has caused numbness in your feet, your doctor may recommend that you do a low-impact aerobic exercise like swimming instead of running.
Check your ketones. Strenuous physical activity should be avoided when you have ketones in your blood or urine. Ketones are chemicals your body produces in response to an elevated blood glucose level and a too-low insulin level. When type 1 diabetics exercise with too many ketones in their system, their blood glucose level may spike even higher.
Care for your feet. If you have numbness in your feet as a complication of your diabetes, you may not feel the pain caused by sores or blisters. Regularly check your feet for sores and blisters so your doctor can treat them before they become serious problems. And wear cotton socks and well-fitted shoes when you exercise.
Prevent low blood glucose. Exercise can sometimes lead to low blood glucose in people with type 1 diabetes. Symptoms of low blood glucose include weakness, shakiness, confusion, hunger, fatigue, increased sweating, fainting, and seizure.
Wear a medical identification bracelet or necklace at all times. That way, if you experience a medical complication during exercise, emergency personnel will know that you have diabetes and are able to treat you appropriately.
Avoid heavy weight-lifting. If you have diabetic eye problems, lifting heavy weights can put extra pressure on the blood vessels in your eyes. Avoid high-impact exercises. If nerve damage has caused numbness in your feet, your doctor may recommend... More
