If you are prone to hypoglycemia when you exercise or at night, you may also have a low blood glucose reaction following sexual activity. This can be especially true if you are intimate at night. This is when your blood glucose levels typically dip, so you may need to adjust your insulin or have a snack before or after sexual activity. Be especially careful if you are combining sexual activity with alcohol.
• If you use insulin, you need to be watchful for low blood glucose
during or after sex.
• Check your blood glucose first. This may slow you down a bit, but it’s
better than having to deal with low blood glucose at an inopportune
moment.
• Eat just before or right after active sex, just as you would if you
were exercising.
• Consider having a snack before going to sleep for the night.
• If you use an insulin pump, you may want to set a temporary basal or
disconnect it during sex to avoid going low. The length of time you
can safely keep the pump off without an injection depends on how
active you are. Ask your health care team for advice about this.
Continue Learning about Hypoglycemia
Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.