Better
Living Staff Writer
According to
jdrf.org, approximately 1.25 million Americans are living with type 1 diabetes
(T1D). People with T1D benefit from exercise like everyone else. Yet studies
show that many people with T1D do not exercise owing to a fear of hypoglycemia,
or dangerously low blood-glucose levels.
Exercise
scientists say that people with T1D can exercise safely. If you have T1D, you
have to observe how your body responds to exercise, learn to balance
insulin, food, and physical activity, and use research-supported strategies
to minimize the risk of hypoglycemia.
Your blood
glucose response to exercise will vary depending on your blood glucose level
before exercise, the intensity of the activity, the length of time you are
active, and changes you’ve made to insulin doses. To learn how different types
of activity affect you, you should check your blood glucose before, during, and
after exercise. Check with your physician or dietician if you’re not sure what
your glucose level should be.
If your blood
glucose levels are trending down before exercise, have a pre-workout snack.
Always carry a carbohydrate food or drink that will quickly raise your blood
glucose. Juice or glucose tabs are great to have on hand, but it may take a
while to figure out what’s best for you.
High-intensity
exercise can increase your stress hormone levels, which raise your blood
glucose. If your blood glucose is high before starting exercise, check your
blood or urine for ketones. If you test positive for ketones, skip the vigorous
activity. If there are no ketones in your blood or urine and you feel well, it
should be fine to exercise.
People with T1D
can also experience delayed-onset hypoglycemia, when blood sugar falls 7 to 11
hours after exercise, sometimes in the middle of the night. You can prevent
delayed hypoglycemia by eating a late snack before bedtime, or adjusting basal
insulin infusions if you use an insulin pump. Check with your physician before
altering prescribed doses.
Skipping exercise
all together to avoid exercise-associated hypoglycemia is not the way to go.
Inactivity poses bigger risks in the long-term for your health. Hypoglycemia is
manageable, though it’s different for every person with T1D. Figure out what
works for you.
For more tips on
managing your blood sugar and exercise, contact Better Living at (734)
747-0123.
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