Diabetes + Exercise
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 T1D athlete 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.
Get Started
Start Working out with T1D
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Get Moving with T1D: Exercise Basics
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Avoid Exercise Lows: How to Time Your Workouts Around Insulin Doses
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Glucagon
Glucagon raises your blood sugar (treating hypoglycemia) while insulin lowers it (treating hyperglycemia or preventing it when taken before eating).MORE
10 Reasons For Hyperglycemia During Training
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Blood Sugar Control — During and After Exercise
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5 Moves to Bring Down Blood Sugars in a Pinch
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How To Prevent Lows During Exercise With Exercise Itself
Dr. Sheri Colberg shares her ways to prevent lows during exercise using specific exercises to do so. She has compiled these methods using research + athlete experiences.MORE
Don’t Crash: How to Manage Exercise Lows
Dive into the science behind the blood sugar drops during and after exercise so you can better understand and plan for them. MORE
Anticipate the Rise: How to Manage Exercise Induced Highs
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Tips: Endurance Exercise with a Closed-Loop Pump
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How Dehydration Can Spike Your Blood Sugar
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How to Adjust Your Basal Rates for Endurance Exercise Training
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Endurance Exercise & Weight-Gain: Why It Happens & How to Prevent It
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Riding On Insulin – Tips for Skiing and Snowboarding with T1D
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Yoga for People with Diabetes
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Kendall Simmons and His T1D Diagnosis in the NFL
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Talking T1D with Sam Fuld: Major League Baseball Player and Dad
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Top Irish Cyclist Diagnosed with Type 1
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Type 1 Training Tips from a National Champion Cyclist
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I went from “I can’t walk” to “I’m cycling to Paris”
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Cycling Cross-Country: T1D and Tubeless
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Transform Your Passion Into Character
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Life is Not a Problem to be Solved, it’s a Reality to Experience
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The Toughest Footrace on Earth
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5 Tips for Running with Type 1 Diabetes
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A Runner’s Guide to T1D
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How I Learned to Love my Body
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T1D Cardiologist Balances Life with Marathon Running
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Bolus and Barbells — Heavy Weight Champion Inspires
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Party Animal Turned Physique Competitor
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Type 1 Powerlifter Redefines “Disability”
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What It’s Like To Be a Ballerina with Type 1
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A Gymnast Superstar Lands on Her Feet
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Striving for a Personal Best
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Swimming On Insulin
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