Diabetes and Exercise: When to Monitor Your Blood Sugar

Self
Updated
Diabetes and exercise: Prevent problems by checking blood sugar before, during, and after exercise.

Diabetes and exercise go hand in hand, at least when it comes to managing your diabetes. Exercise can help you improve your blood sugar control, boost your overall fitness, and reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke.

But diabetes and exercise pose unique challenges, too. To exercise safely, it's crucial to track your blood sugar before, during, and after physical activity. You'll learn how your body responds to exercise, which can help you prevent potentially dangerous blood sugar fluctuations.

Before exercise: Check your blood sugar before your workout.

Before jumping into a fitness program, get your doctor's OK to exercise—especially if you've been inactive. Talk to your doctor about any activities you're contemplating, the best time to exercise and the potential impact of medications on your blood sugar as you become more active.

For the best health benefits, experts recommend at least 150 minutes a week of moderately intense physical activities such as:

  • Fast walking

  • Lap swimming

  • Bicycling

If you're taking insulin or medications that can cause low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), test your blood sugar 30 minutes before exercising.

Consider these general guidelines relative to your blood sugar level—measured in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or millimoles per liter (mmol/L).

  • Lower than 100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L). Your blood sugar may be too low to exercise safely. Eat a small snack containing 15 to 30 grams of carbohydrates, such as fruit juice, fruit, crackers, or even glucose tablets before you begin your workout.

  • 100 to 250 mg/dL (5.6 to 13.9 mmol/L). You're good to go. For most people, this is a safe pre-exercise blood sugar range.

  • 250 mg/dL (13.9 mmol/L) or higher. This is a caution zone—Your blood sugar may be too high to exercise safely. Before exercising, test your urine for ketones—substances made when your body breaks down fat for energy. The presence of ketones indicates that your body doesn't have enough insulin to control your blood sugar.

    If you exercise when you have a high level of ketones, you risk ketoacidosis—a serious complication of diabetes that needs immediate treatment. Instead, take measures to correct the high blood sugar levels and wait to exercise until your ketone test indicates an absence of ketones in your urine.

During exercise: Watch for symptoms of low blood sugar.

During exercise, low blood sugar is sometimes a concern. If you're planning a long workout, check your blood sugar every 30 minutes—especially if you're trying a new activity or increasing the intensity or duration of your workout. Checking every half-hour or so lets you know if your blood sugar level is stable, rising, or falling, and whether it's safe to keep exercising.

This may be difficult if you're participating in outdoor activities or sports. However, this precaution is necessary until you know how your blood sugar responds to changes in your exercise habits.

Stop exercising if:

  • Your blood sugar is 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L) or lower

  • You feel shaky, weak, or confused

Eat or drink something (with approximately 15 to 20 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate) to raise your blood sugar level, such as:

  • Glucose tablets or gel (check the label to see how many grams of carbohydrate these contain)

  • 1/2 cup (4 ounces/118 milliliters) of fruit juice

  • 1/2 cup (4 ounces/118 milliliters) of regular (NON-diet) soft drink

  • Hard candy, jelly beans, or candy corn (check the label to see how many grams of carbohydrate these contain)

Recheck your blood sugar 15 minutes later. If it's still too low, have another 15 gram carbohydrate serving and test again 15 minutes later.

Repeat as needed until your blood sugar reaches at least 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L). If you haven't finished your workout, you can continue once your blood sugar returns to a safe range.

After exercise: Check your blood sugar again.

Check your blood sugar as soon as you finish exercising and again several times during the next few hours. Exercise draws on reserve sugar stored in your muscles and liver. As your body rebuilds these stores, it takes sugar from your blood.

The more strenuous your workout, the longer your blood sugar will be affected. Low blood sugar is possible even four to eight hours after exercise. Having a snack with slower-acting carbohydrates, such as a granola bar or trail mix, after your workout can help prevent a drop in your blood sugar.

If you do have low blood sugar after exercise, eat a small carbohydrate-containing snack, such as fruit, crackers, or glucose tablets, or drink a half-cup (4 ounces/118 milliliters) of fruit juice.

Exercise is beneficial to your health in many ways, but if you have diabetes, testing your blood sugar before, during and after exercise may be just as important as the exercise itself.

Updated: 2015-12-01

Publication Date: 2005-02-25