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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Gone are the days when you had to write down all of your individual blood sugar readings in a paper...
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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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Reach Your Goals
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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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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If you live with type 2 diabetes (T2D), you’ve probably gotten practice with reading nutrition labels. But just because you’ve...
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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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The teen years are complicated. Surely, if you’re a parent, you can remember some of the disdain, frustration and drama...
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Baseball & Football
Cycling
Running
Weight lifting
Dance & Gymnastics
Tailgating season means a full day outside before the game even starts. You’re up early, standing around a grill, maybe...
Read more
Diabetes medications aren’t the only ones that affect your blood sugar levels. Common prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications, such as...
Read more
The teen years are complicated. Surely, if you’re a parent, you can remember some of the disdain, frustration and drama...
Read more
Marathon training involves a lot of moving parts, from nutrition and the right gear to planning your recovery. But for...
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If you’ve ever been to the grocery store and spent a little more time than you wanted to, staring at...
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Cold weather doesn’t just mean bundling up before you head outside. If you live with type 1 diabetes (T1D), it...
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