Exercise & Diabetes: Staying Safe
Exercise & Diabetes: Staying Safe – You can exercise with diabetes, you just need to watch your blood sugar level closely. Learn how to exercise with diabetes safely in this video!
Expert: Peter Dabrowski, MD, P.C.
Transcript
Physical activity helps regulate blood sugar AND blood pressure, IMPROVES your body’s ability to use insulin, REDUCES bad cholesterol levels, and helps you LOSE weight. But before you get moving, ask your doctor what sort of exercise is safe for YOU.
If you’re not in shape, start out SLOWLY. Try taking a walk or a swim in a pool, and then INCREASE the intensity as your doctor recommends.
And if you have vision problems or other diabetes-related complications, make sure that increased blood pressure during exercise won’t cause further damage.
People with diabetic neuropathy need to work with a physical therapist to determine what is safe AND possible.
And everyone with diabetes, even if you’re in TIP-TOP shape, has to be careful not to trigger hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, while exercising. You can develop it if you take your normal dose of medication or insulin AND burn up available blood sugar through physical activity. You may also have low blood sugar if you SKIP a meal and then exercise.
Your doctor can help you figure out how to adjust your medication and diet to avoid problems. Remember, take a glucose reading BEFORE exercise. If your blood sugar reading is 300 or higher OR 100 or lower, don’t start exercising. Also take a reading right after you’re done, and LATER ON.
Exercise can lower blood sugar for up to 12 hours. Also check your glucose DURING exercise if you’re active for longer than 45 minutes. Once you’re ready for exercise, take along snacks in case you become hypoglycemic and drink PLENTY of water.
Check out the other videos on diabetes to learn more.
Last Modified: 2014-04-09
