The benefits of regular exercise can be enjoyed by people with diabetes as much as anyone else. You can benefit from exercise in a number of ways:
Before exercising here are some points to consider:
If your diabetes is under good control, you should be able to do the same kind of physical activity as people without diabetes. The extent of the effect on your blood sugar depends on how long you exercise for and how intensely.
If you are on certain tablets for your diabetes, your blood sugar may fall too low sometimes. Your doctor will advise you if this is a possibility with your treatment.
The effect of exercise on blood sugar differs from person to person. It’s a good idea to learn how your body responds to different kinds of physical activities.
When you are physically active, your body burns sugar faster and can lower your blood sugar. Some diabetes medicines can increase the risk of hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) under these circumstances. If you are taking such medicines, you should test your blood sugar before the exercise session. You'll usually need to eat more before - and maybe also during and after - exercise.
When you exercise for a long period of time, it is usually necessary to eat extra food, especially if you take diabetic medicines. You will usually need to eat more before exercise, and maybe also during and after exercise. There are no fixed rules, so you might try some different options to see what's best for you.
Take some sugar, biscuits or juice with you when you exercise. Take your diabetes ID card too. It will tell people what to do if your blood sugar becomes so low that you need help.
If you are exercising with other people you should let them know you have diabetes. Tell them what the symptoms are when you have low blood sugar and what they should do if you suddenly need their help. Also tell them where you keep fast-acting sugar and your glucagon injection kit.
Make sure you use the right footwear for your particular type of exercise.
It’s a good idea to test your blood sugar after exercise. If it’s normal or low, you should eat some more food. Be aware that hypoglycaemia can develop several hours after a hard exercise session.
If you are on tablets for your diabetes and you exercise late in the day, you should be particularly aware of hypoglycaemia during the night and eat an extra large snack at bedtime. You may also need to eat extra foods rich in carbohydrate, such as pasta, the following day.
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Last updated: August 2009