In general, when you have diabetes, physical activity Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the National …
Keeping hypos at bay
In general, when you have diabetes, physical activity is likely to make your blood glucose levels go down This is not just true for people using insulin but for all people with diabetes So, to avoid your levels falling too low, before and after exercising: Always take a small snack before you start exercising Before you begin, test to make sure your blood glucose levels are not too low Have glucose tablets, a sugary drink or a snack at hand while you exercise, in case you feel hypo Test again after you exercise, and ask yourself: How low are my levels? Do I need a snack? Should I have had a bigger snack before I started?
Diabetes and exercise
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Country Australia Customer Care Line 1-800-801478 Operating Hours Mon-Fri 800-1800
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Watch out for delayed hypos
If you have undertaken vigorous exercise, keep an eye on your levels over the next 36 hours as you may need to make some longer-term adjustments to your diet to avoid going hypo later
Ask your healthcare professional how Optium Omega, Optium Xceed or FreeStyle Lite blood glucose meters may assist you, always read the label and
use only as directed
If you are a user of an ADC meter in Australia, call Customer Service on 1800 801 478, or register on line at wwwabbottdiabetescarecomau to activate your lifetime meter warranty
References: 1 Joslins Diabetes Mellitus, 14th Edition 2005, New York Ovid Technologies 2 National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health Bethesda, Mol NIDOK 3 Kronenberg: Williams Textbook of Endocrinology 11th Edition 2008 Please consult your healthcare professional before making any changes Abbott Diabetes Care, 666 Doncaster Road, Doncaster, Victoria 3108, Australia wwwabbottdiabetescarecomau ABN 95 000 180 389 MSE08304101905 24203
Exercise is good for everyone
When you have diabetes, regular exercise is recommended by Healthcare Professionals for a number of reasons
How much exercise should I participate in?
It is generally recommended that you should exercise for thirty minutes five times a week Some authorities say that you can spread those thirty minutes out over the course of a day Start slowly with just five minutes at a time if you need to and build up gradually to thirty minutes a day Work with your healthcare
professional to devise an exercise programme specifically for you
Find the activities that suit you
Whilst all e 
xercise is beneficial, its best to choose activities that meet your goals and are safe for you to do If you seldom exercise, ask your healthcare professional what sort of intensity and frequency of physical activity is right for you If you have heart, eye or blood pressure problems, you must seek medical advice before starting a new exercise program To prevent injury, ensure you warm up with gentle stretching before and after exercise Take good care of your feet: Always wear socks and make sure that your footwear fits well Be very aware of any developing blisters and take care of them properly Be careful if you have diabetic foot problems Running and treadmill work are not suitable exercises for this condition Swimming or cycling are much kinder to the feet Be careful if you want to lift heavy weights Sudden lifting can increase your blood pressure
Exercise:
Tones your muscles, and muscles are more sensitive to insulin than fat Uses up energy and lowers blood sugar glucose levels Helps you to maintain or achieve a healthy weight Helps to reduce stress Can
increase your lung capacity and the amount of oxygen you can take into your bloodstream Helps to reduce your cholesterol levels and your blood pressure, which in turn lowers your risk of heart disease Improves the circulation of blood around your body, which reduces the risk of arterial disease this is the medical term for problems involving blood vessels Arterial disease can result in other cardiovascular diseases
Are there any times when I should not exercise?
If your levels are too high: Exercise can make your levels go up even further if your blood glucose levels are already high and you do not have enough insulin available, you may have forgotten to take your insulin or your tablets Your body moves its glucose stores from your liver into your bloodstream to give you more energy, but you dont have enough insulin to move it into your muscles where it can be used Exercise and illness a bad mix: Your blood glucose levels will rise to fight off infections, so all your insulin will be needed Do not exercise if your blood sugar level is greater than 150mmol/L, or if you have ketones
Exercise helps release endorphins, hormones that help you feel good
Wear your diabetes ID
tag in case you have a hypo or an accidental injury while you are exercising It will help the medical team to know that you are taking tablets or insulin
Source:altimed.com
