Exercise During Diabetes

Exercise promotes muscular activity and burns sugar. Therefore, you may need a reduction in the dose of table or insulin. Exercise during diabetes also promotes good circulation and maintains weight.

Regular exercise, the ½ hr – 1 hr of brisk walking improves the effect of insulin.

All diabetes patients need to exercise, but the type and the amount will vary for each individual. Most individuals would benefit from long walks (1.2-1.8 mi./day), gardening, walking to office or shopping complex, cycling short distances, or playing golf.

If you are taking insulin you will find that increasing your level of regular exercise may cause a significant fall in your blood glucose, sometimes producing hypoglycemia. You may therefore need to balance your food and insulin dose. If your type of exercise lasts longer e.g. badminton/tennis playing, you need to take sugar or fruit juice at regular intervals. Discuss this with your dietician or diabetes nurse educator.

If you are on tablets, you can perform extra exercise without worry of experiencing hypoglycemia.

If you are overweight and your diabetes is controlled alone, low blood glucose would not occur with an increase in amount of exercise.

The diagnosis of ‘Diabetes’ need not scare you to give up the sports you like. Many people with diabetes have excelled in highly competitive sports.