Diabetes + Exercise
Exercise is key to a healthy lifestyle. You should always consult your doctor before engaging in strenuous exercise to be sure you are physically able though.
Editor’s Note: Consult your doctor before engaging in a new exercise regimen. Exercising with type 1 diabetes can lead to potentially dangerous swings in your blood sugar levels.
Exercising with type 1 diabetes is complicated. The type of exercise, time of day, length of your workout, types of insulin, pump vs. injections, the last time you ate, etc. are some of the many variables that determine how it will affect your blood sugar.
But regular exercise is also an important part of managing type 1 diabetes and your general health, so learning how to make it part of your routine is worth the effort.
The primary risks of physical activity for the athlete with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are essentially two:
- Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
To prepare for hypoglycemia, keep at least 15 to 20 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates on hand at all times. Aerobic exercise, such as jogging, tends to drive blood glucose down depending on how much insulin is already active in your bloodstream. Learning how to adjust insulin doses and time your exercise accordingly can significantly reduce your risk of hypoglycemia during and after exercise.
- Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar)
Certain high-intensity or anaerobic exercises, such as weight lifting or sprinting, can increase blood sugar levels. Learning how to adjust insulin doses and time your exercise accordingly can significantly reduce your risk of hyperglycemia during and after exercise.
Here, we offer a variety of resources to help you manage your blood sugar around different types of exercise and different methods of controlling the many variables that make it complicated.
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Manage the Highs + Lows
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Whether you’re running 3 miles or 13, learning how—and when—to adjust your insulin rates for endurance training is a critical...
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Gone are the days when you had to write down all of your individual blood sugar readings in a paper...
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Training for a marathon or a triathlon as a person with type 1 diabetes comes with a variety of challenges...
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Editor’s Note: Phil Graham (BSc, CISSN) is a certified sports nutritionist and competitive body builder. Learn more of his training...
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Editor’s note: This content was originally produced by JDRF, shared here as part of the JDRF – Beyond Type 1...
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Dive Deeper
Personal Stories
Here, you'll find a huge variety of personal stories on managing blood sugar levels during exercise from people living with Type 1 diabetes.
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Some people leave their insulin pump for a day. Some leave it for good. This guide explores why some people...
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You probably already know that managing type 2 diabetes (T2D) means keeping your blood sugar within a target range, but...
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Baseball & Football
Cycling
Running
Weight lifting
Dance & Gymnastics
Starting college is a big life transition—it marks a huge step from childhood to young adulthood, giving you more independence...
Read more
Whether you just got diagnosed with a form of diabetes or just feel like you need more support with an...
Read more
Some people leave their insulin pump for a day. Some leave it for good. This guide explores why some people...
Read more
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) usually doesn’t travel alone because it’s an autoimmune condition. Once your immune system decides to attack...
Read more
Tailgating season means a full day outside before the game even starts. You’re up early, standing around a grill, maybe...
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Diabetes medications aren’t the only ones that affect your blood sugar levels. Common prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications, such as...
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