All forms of exercise—aerobic, Contorl, or B,ood both combined Almond farming practices —were equally sugad at lowering HbA1c values in people with diabetes. Find ways to squeeze physical activity into your day-to-day life. Can whole-grain foods lower blood pressure? Checking every half-hour tells you if your blood sugar level is stable, rising or falling.

Blood sugar control and exercise -

Know when to call your healthcare professional too. For example, it's important to call if you run a fever over degrees Fahrenheit Keep taking your diabetes medicine.

But call your healthcare professional if you can't eat because of an upset stomach or vomiting. In these situations, you may need to change your insulin dose. If you take rapid-acting or short-acting insulin or other diabetes medicine, you may need to lower the dose or stop taking it for a time.

These medicines need to be carefully balanced with food to prevent low blood sugar. But if you use long-acting insulin, do not stop taking it.

During times of illness, it's also important to check your blood sugar often. Stick to your diabetes meal plan if you can. Eating as usual helps you control your blood sugar.

Keep a supply of foods that are easy on your stomach. These include gelatin, crackers, soups, instant pudding and applesauce.

Drink lots of water or other fluids that don't add calories, such as tea, to make sure you stay hydrated. If you take insulin, you may need to sip sugary drinks such as juice or sports drinks.

These drinks can help keep your blood sugar from dropping too low. It's risky for some people with diabetes to drink alcohol. Alcohol can lead to low blood sugar shortly after you drink it and for hours afterward.

The liver usually releases stored sugar to offset falling blood sugar levels. But if your liver is processing alcohol, it may not give your blood sugar the needed boost.

Get your healthcare professional's OK to drink alcohol. With diabetes, drinking too much alcohol sometimes can lead to health conditions such as nerve damage. But if your diabetes is under control and your healthcare professional agrees, an occasional alcoholic drink is fine.

Women should have no more than one drink a day. Men should have no more than two drinks a day. One drink equals a ounce beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1. Don't drink alcohol on an empty stomach. If you take insulin or other diabetes medicines, eat before you drink alcohol.

This helps prevent low blood sugar. Or drink alcohol with a meal. Choose your drinks carefully. Light beer and dry wines have fewer calories and carbohydrates than do other alcoholic drinks. If you prefer mixed drinks, sugar-free mixers won't raise your blood sugar.

Some examples of sugar-free mixers are diet soda, diet tonic, club soda and seltzer. Add up calories from alcohol. If you count calories, include the calories from any alcohol you drink in your daily count.

Ask your healthcare professional or a registered dietitian how to make calories and carbohydrates from alcoholic drinks part of your diet plan. Check your blood sugar level before bed. Alcohol can lower blood sugar levels long after you've had your last drink.

So check your blood sugar level before you go to sleep. The snack can counter a drop in your blood sugar. Changes in hormone levels the week before and during periods can lead to swings in blood sugar levels. Look for patterns. Keep careful track of your blood sugar readings from month to month.

You may be able to predict blood sugar changes related to your menstrual cycle. Your healthcare professional may recommend changes in your meal plan, activity level or diabetes medicines. These changes can make up for blood sugar swings.

Check blood sugar more often. If you're likely nearing menopause or if you're in menopause, talk with your healthcare professional. Ask whether you need to check your blood sugar more often. Also, be aware that menopause and low blood sugar have some symptoms in common, such as sweating and mood changes.

So whenever you can, check your blood sugar before you treat your symptoms. That way you can confirm whether your blood sugar is low. Most types of birth control are safe to use when you have diabetes. But combination birth control pills may raise blood sugar levels in some people.

It's very important to take charge of stress when you have diabetes. The hormones your body makes in response to prolonged stress may cause your blood sugar to rise.

It also may be harder to closely follow your usual routine to manage diabetes if you're under a lot of extra pressure. Take control. Once you know how stress affects your blood sugar level, make healthy changes. Learn relaxation techniques, rank tasks in order of importance and set limits.

Whenever you can, stay away from things that cause stress for you. Exercise often to help relieve stress and lower your blood sugar. Get help. Learn new ways to manage stress. You may find that working with a psychologist or clinical social worker can help.

These professionals can help you notice stressors, solve stressful problems and learn coping skills. The more you know about factors that have an effect on your blood sugar level, the better you can prepare to manage diabetes.

If you have trouble keeping your blood sugar in your target range, ask your diabetes healthcare team for help. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health.

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Show references Facilitating behavior change and well-being to improve health outcomes. Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes — Diabetes Care. Nutrition overview. American Diabetes Association. Accessed Dec.

Diabetes and mental health. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Insulin, medicines, and other diabetes treatments.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Insulin storage and syringe safety. Diabetes diet, eating, and physical activity. Type 2 diabetes mellitus adult. Mayo Clinic; Wexler DJ. Initial management of hyperglycemia in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes and women. Planning for sick days. Diabetes: Managing sick days. Castro MR expert opinion. Mayo Clinic. Hypoglycemia low blood glucose. Blood glucose and exercise. Riddell MC. Exercise guidance in adults with diabetes mellitus. Colberg SR, et al. Palermi S, et al. The complex relationship between physical activity and diabetes: An overview.

Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology. Take charge of your diabetes: Your medicines. Sick day management for adults with type 1 diabetes.

Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists. Alcohol and diabetes. Diabetes and nerve damage. Roe AH, et al. Combined estrogen-progestin contraception: Side effects and health concerns. Products and Services The Mayo Clinic Diet Online A Book: The Essential Diabetes Book.

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Infographic: Pancreas Kidney Transplant Pancreas transplant Pulse pressure: An indicator of heart health? Reactive hypoglycemia: What can I do? Resperate: Can it help reduce blood pressure? Sleep deprivation: A cause of high blood pressure?

Stress and high blood pressure The dawn phenomenon: What can you do? Unexplained weight loss Vasodilators Vegetarian diet: Can it help me control my diabetes?

How to measure blood pressure using a manual monitor How to measure blood pressure using an automatic monitor What is blood pressure? Can a lack of vitamin D cause high blood pressure?

Weight Loss Surgery Options White coat hypertension Wrist blood pressure monitors: Are they accurate? Show more related content. But you might see blood glucose go up after exercise, too. Some workouts, such as heavy weightlifting, sprints, and competitive sports, cause you to produce stress hormones such as adrenaline.

Adrenaline raises blood glucose levels by stimulating your liver to release glucose. The food you eat before or during a workout may also contribute to a glucose rise. Eat too many carbs before exercising, and your sweat session may not be enough to keep your blood glucose within your goal range.

Now that you know what causes a blood glucose rise after or during exercise, you may expect and accept it during your next workout session because you know the benefits of exercise outweigh the rise in glucose. Physical activity is important for everyone with diabetes.

Managing glucose levels with any form of exercise is possible once you understand your personal patterns doing regular blood glucose checks and keeping a workout log can help and making adjustments that make sense to you and your lifestyle.

Breadcrumb Home You Can Manage and Thrive with Diabetes Fitness Why Does Exercise Sometimes Raise Blood Glucose? Adrenaline Can Raise Blood Glucose Levels Using your muscles helps burn glucose and improves the way insulin works.

Strategies to Keep Blood Glucose From Rising During Workouts Now that you know what causes a blood glucose rise after or during exercise, you may expect and accept it during your next workout session because you know the benefits of exercise outweigh the rise in glucose.

Practice relaxation techniques such as paced breathing, visualization, or meditation before and during your workout to minimize the adrenaline effect. Consider moving your workout to later in the day if you usually exercise in the early mornings.

Mayo Liver protection offers appointments in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota Blpod at Mayo Clinic Energy-boosting snacks System locations. Diabetes management BCAA supplements for recovery after intense workouts awareness. Anv what makes your exercisse sugar level rise and ad — and how to control these day-to-day factors. When you have diabetes, it's important to keep your blood sugar levels within the range recommended by your healthcare professional. But many things can make your blood sugar levels change, sometimes quickly. Find out some of the factors that can affect blood sugar. Then learn what you can do to manage them. Actions Blood sugar control and exercise as Bloid regularly and eating Blood sugar control and exercise fiber and probiotics, Ginger for weight loss others, may help lower ezercise blood sugar levels. Controk blood sugar, cintrol known as hyperglycemia, is associated with diabetes and prediabetes. Prediabetes is when your blood sugar is high, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes. Your body usually manages your blood sugar levels by producing insulin, a hormone that allows your cells to use the circulating sugar in your blood. As such, insulin is the most important regulator of blood sugar levels 1. The latter is known as insulin resistance 1. External factors include dietary choices, certain medications, a sedentary lifestyle, and stress 12.

If you have diabetes or are at risk of diabetes, physical BCAA supplements for recovery after intense workouts should be part of coontrol routine. Regular cntrol is beneficial Antioxidant powerhouses it allows active muscles to ecercise up sugar as a source suhar energy, BCAA supplements for recovery after intense workouts prevents sugar build-up in the blood.

When this Long-lasting energy formula, it can have a negative impact on you BCAA supplements for recovery after intense workouts your body.

We spoke to pharmacy manager Faheem Ahmed, Ginger health benefits, CDE, from the Walmart pharmacy in Kitchener, Ont. He says. I fxercise a CDE [Certified Diabetes Educator] in exercse Blood sugar control and exercise to Blodo my community exercis my professional practice as a pharmacist.

Being a CDE allows me to educate patients and help enhance their Blood sugar control and exercise African Mango Fat Loss how Optimizing body recomposition progress control their blood sugqr.

Faheem: Regular exercise B,ood an effective way to lower your blood sugar levels anf you live with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. For some anr with type 2 diabetes, exercise may work as effectively as some medications, and sometimes, with fewer side effects. Faheem: Exerrcise least minutes of aerobic physical activity is recommended Blood sugar control and exercise week for example, 30 minutes a day for 5 days anc week.

Aerobic ahd include activities with continuous movement, Bood as brisk walking, running, cycling, swimming, and edercise activities that sugaf your heart rate. Gradually increase an duration over time. Resistance exercise, another type of physical activity, is recommended two to three times per week.

Studies have shown the benefits of both aerobic and resistance exercise for people with diabetes, which together will have a greater impact. Faheem: If you take insulin or medications that increase the release of insulin, you'll need to track your blood sugar before, during and after exercise.

This will show you how your body responds to exercise, which can help you prevent potentially dangerous blood sugar fluctuations. Faheem: Exercise can affect blood sugar levels by decreasing them.

The more strenuous the workout, the longer you will experience the effect on your blood sugar. Some intense exercises, such as heavy weightlifting, produce adrenaline which can cause a temporary increase in blood sugar levels.

Exercise will not make it harder to stay in your target range; however, there are some strategies you can use to prevent high or low sugar levels : maintain an exercise routine of similar intensity and duration, and to begin incorporating exercise into your routine slowly if you are inactive.

For some people, a low may result from a sudden, unusual amount of exercise. Faheem: By understanding the causes of highs and lows, you can avoid or better manage them. To avoid hypoglycemia also known as low blood sugarin people with type 1 diabetes, Diabetes Canada Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Diabetes in Canada recommend adjusting insulin and increasing carbohydrate consumption.

In people with type 2 diabetes, ensure proper hydration and monitor for signs of dehydration. Treat low blood sugars immediately: drink or eat a fast-acting carbohydrate glucose tabs, juice, honey and wait 15 minutes before checking blood sugar levels again.

Treat highs by adjusting your diet, physical activity, and medications insulin. Faheem: Talk to your doctor before starting any intense exercise that is more difficult than brisk walking if you have been inactive for a while. Know the signs of low blood sugar and carry a fast-acting carbohydrate such as glucose tablets with you.

Also, if you take medications to treat your diabetes, speak to your doctor as your dose might need to be adjusted depending on your level of exercise.

Faheem: If you're at risk of developing type 2, regular exercise may help delay or prevent the onset of diabetes, along with boosting your overall fitness.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the sponsor, and do not necessarily reflect those of Diabetes Canada.

: Blood sugar control and exercise

Blood Glucose and Exercise	Price Transparency. Read on for tips dugar help you get moving and Wireless glucose tracking going. Qnd ahead. This is key if you're trying a new activity or increasing the intensity or length of your workout. Check your blood sugar before, during and after exercise.
How exercise can help lower your blood sugar - Diabetes Canada	If you want to continue your workout, you will usually need to take a break to treat your low blood glucose. Keep in mind that low blood glucose can occur during or long after physical activity. It is more likely to occur if you:. If hypoglycemia interferes with your exercise routine, talk to your health care provider about the best treatment plan for you. Your provider may suggest eating a small snack before you exercise or they may make an adjustment to your medication s. For people engaging in long duration exercise, a combination of these two regimen changes may be necessary to prevent hypoglycemia during and after exercise. Breadcrumb Home You Can Manage and Thrive with Diabetes Fitness Blood Glucose and Exercise. There are a few ways that exercise lowers blood glucose also known as blood sugar : Insulin sensitivity is increased, so your muscle cells are better able to use any available insulin to take up glucose during and after activity. When your muscles contract during activity, your cells are able to take up glucose and use it for energy whether insulin is available or not. Understanding Your Blood Glucose and Exercise The effect physical activity has on your blood glucose will vary depending on how long you are active and many other factors. Hypoglycemia and Physical Activity People taking insulin or insulin secretagogues oral diabetes pills that cause your pancreas to make more insulin are at risk for hypoglycemia if insulin dose or carbohydrate intake is not adjusted with exercise. If you experience hypoglycemia during or after exercise, treat it immediately: Follow the rule: 1. Check your blood glucose. Furthermore, adding protein or healthy fats helps minimize blood sugar spikes after a meal Stress can affect your blood sugar levels When stressed, your body secretes hormones called glucagon and cortisol, which cause blood sugar levels to rise 29 , One study including a group of students showed that exercise, relaxation, and meditation significantly reduced stress and lowered blood sugar levels Exercises and relaxation methods like yoga and mindfulness-based stress reduction may also help correct insulin secretion problems among people with chronic diabetes 31 , 32 , Managing your stress levels through exercise or relaxation methods like yoga may help you regulate blood sugar levels. Monitoring blood glucose levels can help you better manage them You can do so at home using a portable blood glucose meter, which is known as a glucometer. You can discuss this option with your doctor. Keeping track allows you to determine whether you need to adjust your meals or medications. It also helps you learn how your body reacts to certain foods 2. Try measuring your levels regularly every day and keeping track of the numbers in a log. Also, it may be more helpful to track your blood sugar in pairs — for example, before and after exercise or before and 2 hours after a meal. This can show you whether you need to make small changes to a meal if it spikes your blood sugar, rather than avoiding your favorite meals altogether. Some adjustments include swapping a starchy side for non-starchy veggies or limiting them to a handful. Checking your blood glucose and maintaining a daily log enables you to adjust foods and medications when necessary to better manage your blood sugar levels. Getting enough sleep feels excellent and is necessary for good health In fact, poor sleeping habits and a lack of rest can affect blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity, increasing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. They can also increase appetite and promote weight gain 36 , 37 , Additionally, sleep deprivation raises levels of the hormone cortisol, which, as explained, plays an essential role in blood sugar management 29 , Adequate sleep is about both quantity and quality. The National Sleep Foundation recommends that adults get at least 7—8 hours of high quality sleep per night To improve the quality of your sleep , try to:. Good sleep helps maintain your blood sugar levels and promotes a healthy weight. On the other hand, poor sleep can disrupt critical metabolic hormones. High blood sugar levels and diabetes have been linked to micronutrient deficiencies. Some examples include deficiencies in the minerals chromium and magnesium Chromium is involved in carb and fat metabolism. It may potentiate the action of insulin, thus aiding blood sugar regulation 41 , 42 , 43 , Chromium-rich foods include:. However, the mechanisms behind this proposed connection are not entirely known, and studies report mixed findings. As such, more research is needed 41 , 45 , Magnesium has also been shown to benefit blood sugar levels. In fact, diets rich in magnesium are associated with a significantly reduced risk of diabetes In contrast, low magnesium levels may lead to insulin resistance and decreased glucose tolerance in people with diabetes 47 , 48 , Eating foods rich in chromium and magnesium can help prevent deficiencies and reduce the risk of blood sugar problems. However, the overall quality of evidence on these ingredients is low due to insufficient human studies or small sample sizes. Therefore, no conclusive recommendations can be made regarding their use Some of the foods touted to have anti-diabetes effects include 51 , 52 :. Finally, the Food and Drug Administration FDA does not regulate supplements in the same way that it regulates prescription medications. Some foods are believed to have blood-sugar-lowering effects. However, research is still inconclusive, and they may negatively interact with your diabetes medication. If you need help finding a primary care doctor, then check out our FindCare tool here. Maintaining a moderate weight promotes healthy blood sugar levels and reduces your risk of developing diabetes 2 , 26 , 27 , For example, if a person weighs pounds 91 kg and loses just 10—14 pounds 4. These are used as indicators of your blood sugar levels over the past 3 months 60 , Maintaining a moderate weight will support blood sugar management and decrease your risk of developing diabetes. Spreading your meals and snacks throughout the day may help you avoid both high and low blood sugar levels Snacking between meals may also reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes In fact, several studies suggest that having smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day could improve insulin sensitivity and lower blood sugar levels 62 , In addition, eating smaller meals and healthy snacks throughout the day may lower glycated hemoglobin HbA1c readings, indicating improvements in blood sugar levels over the previous 3 months Snacking between meals could keep your blood sugar levels from spiking or plummeting throughout the day. Probiotics are friendly bacteria that offer numerous health benefits, including improved blood sugar regulation 65 , 66 , 67 , Research shows that probiotic intake may lower fasting blood sugar, glycated hemoglobin HbA1c , and insulin resistance in people with type 2 diabetes 65 , 66 , 67 , Interestingly, studies have found that improvements in blood sugar levels are more significant in people who consume multiple species of probiotics and for at least 8 weeks 69 , Probiotic-rich foods include fermented foods, such as:. Insulin is a hormone that balances blood sugar in the body. These are defined as excessive thirst, urination, and appetite, respectively. Many of them include making lifestyle changes, like managing your weight, stress levels, and sleep quality, exercising, and staying hydrated. That said, some of the biggest improvements have to do with your dietary choices. Be sure to talk with your healthcare professional before making lifestyle changes or trying new supplements— especially if you have problems with blood sugar management or are taking medications. Read this article in Spanish. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. VIEW ALL HISTORY. This article is based on scientific evidence, written by experts and fact checked by experts. Our team of licensed nutritionists and dietitians strive to be objective, unbiased, honest and to present both sides of the argument. This article contains scientific references. The numbers in the parentheses 1, 2, 3 are clickable links to peer-reviewed scientific papers. Has taking insulin led to weight gain for you? Learn why this happens, plus how you can manage your weight once you've started insulin treatment. When it comes to managing diabetes, adding the right superfoods to your diet is key. Try these simple, delicious recipes for breakfast, lunch, and…. A Quiz for Teens Are You a Workaholic? How Well Do You Sleep? Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Nutrition Evidence Based 14 Easy Ways to Lower Blood Sugar Levels Naturally. Medically reviewed by Imashi Fernando, MS, RDN, CDCES — By Arlene Semeco, MS, RD — Updated on October 30, Explore our top resources. Exercise regularly. Manage your carb intake.
Why Exercise Matters for Those with Diabetes	Find something you like. Partner up. Make it a habit. Schedule physical activity into your daily routine. Walk every day during lunch or walk with your family after dinner. The more regular you are, the quicker it will become a habit. Measure your progress. Then you can celebrate your successes! Our bodies are made to move, and we feel better when they do. Just make sure to check with your doctor before starting any new or more difficult activity. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to search. Español Other Languages. Get Moving To Manage Your Diabetes. Español Spanish Print. Minus Related Pages. You Can Start Slowly! The recommended daily intake of fiber is about 25 grams for women and 35 grams for men. Eating plenty of fiber can aid blood sugar management. Soluble dietary fiber appears to be more effective than insoluble fiber for this purpose. In addition to preventing dehydration, it helps your kidneys flush out any excess sugar through urine. One review of observational studies showed that those who drank more water had a lower risk of developing high blood sugar levels Drinking water regularly may rehydrate the blood, lower blood sugar levels, and reduce diabetes risk 20 , Keep in mind that water and other zero-calorie drinks are best. Avoid sugar-sweetened options, as these can raise blood glucose, drive weight gain, and increase diabetes risk 22 , Staying hydrated can reduce blood sugar levels and diabetes risk. Choose water and zero-calorie drinks and avoid sugar-sweetened beverages. Portion control can help you regulate your calorie intake and maintain a moderate weight 24 , Consequently, weight management promotes healthy blood sugar levels and has been shown to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes 1 , 26 , Monitoring your serving sizes also helps prevent blood sugar spikes 2. The glycemic index GI measures how quickly carbs break down during digestion and how rapidly your body absorbs them. This affects how quickly your blood sugar levels rise The GI divides foods into low, medium, and high GI and ranks them on a scale of 0— Low GI foods have a ranking of 55 or less 15 , Both the amount and type of carbs you eat determine how a food affects your blood sugar levels. Specifically, eating low GI foods has been shown to reduce blood sugar levels in people with diabetes 15 , Furthermore, adding protein or healthy fats helps minimize blood sugar spikes after a meal Stress can affect your blood sugar levels When stressed, your body secretes hormones called glucagon and cortisol, which cause blood sugar levels to rise 29 , One study including a group of students showed that exercise, relaxation, and meditation significantly reduced stress and lowered blood sugar levels Exercises and relaxation methods like yoga and mindfulness-based stress reduction may also help correct insulin secretion problems among people with chronic diabetes 31 , 32 , Managing your stress levels through exercise or relaxation methods like yoga may help you regulate blood sugar levels. Monitoring blood glucose levels can help you better manage them You can do so at home using a portable blood glucose meter, which is known as a glucometer. You can discuss this option with your doctor. Keeping track allows you to determine whether you need to adjust your meals or medications. It also helps you learn how your body reacts to certain foods 2. Try measuring your levels regularly every day and keeping track of the numbers in a log. Also, it may be more helpful to track your blood sugar in pairs — for example, before and after exercise or before and 2 hours after a meal. This can show you whether you need to make small changes to a meal if it spikes your blood sugar, rather than avoiding your favorite meals altogether. Some adjustments include swapping a starchy side for non-starchy veggies or limiting them to a handful. Checking your blood glucose and maintaining a daily log enables you to adjust foods and medications when necessary to better manage your blood sugar levels. Getting enough sleep feels excellent and is necessary for good health In fact, poor sleeping habits and a lack of rest can affect blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity, increasing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. They can also increase appetite and promote weight gain 36 , 37 , Additionally, sleep deprivation raises levels of the hormone cortisol, which, as explained, plays an essential role in blood sugar management 29 , Adequate sleep is about both quantity and quality. The National Sleep Foundation recommends that adults get at least 7—8 hours of high quality sleep per night To improve the quality of your sleep , try to:. Good sleep helps maintain your blood sugar levels and promotes a healthy weight. On the other hand, poor sleep can disrupt critical metabolic hormones. High blood sugar levels and diabetes have been linked to micronutrient deficiencies. Some examples include deficiencies in the minerals chromium and magnesium Chromium is involved in carb and fat metabolism. It may potentiate the action of insulin, thus aiding blood sugar regulation 41 , 42 , 43 , Chromium-rich foods include:. However, the mechanisms behind this proposed connection are not entirely known, and studies report mixed findings. As such, more research is needed 41 , 45 , Magnesium has also been shown to benefit blood sugar levels. In fact, diets rich in magnesium are associated with a significantly reduced risk of diabetes Discuss other ideas with your health care provider. Special Considerations for People With Diabetes Protect your feet by wearing cotton socks with well-fitting athletic shoes. Video: Being Active Physical Activity Basics Physical Activity and Health Measuring Physical Activity Intensity More People Walk to Better Health Exercise and Type 1 Diabetes. Last Reviewed: November 3, Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 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Blood sugar control and exercise -

In general, the best time to exercise is one to three hours after eating, when your blood sugar level is likely to be higher. If you use insulin, it's important to test your blood sugar before exercising. Testing again 30 minutes later will show whether your blood sugar level is stable.

It's also a good idea to check your blood sugar after any particularly grueling workout or activity. If you're taking insulin, your risk of developing hypoglycemia may be highest six to 12 hours after exercising.

Because of the dangers associated with diabetes, always wear a medical alert bracelet indicating that you have diabetes and whether you take insulin. Also keep hard candy or glucose tablets with you while exercising in case your blood sugar drops precipitously.

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Sign up now and get a FREE copy of the Best Diets for Cognitive Fitness. Interval training involves short periods of vigorous exercise such as running or cycling, alternating with 30 second to 3 minute recovery periods at low-to-moderate intensity or, rest. Your goal should be to complete at least minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise each week, e.

You may have to start slowly, with as little as 5 to 10 minutes of exercise per day, gradually building up to your goal. The good news, though, is that multiple, shorter exercise sessions of at least 10 minutes, adding up to minutes per week, can have some benefits for people with diabetes.

As you begin your exercise program and continue to build on it, be sure that you have no more than 2 consecutive days without exercise. If you are able and when you are ready, try adding resistance exercises like lifting weights times a week.

Eat or drink something with about 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate to raise your blood sugar level, such as:. Check your blood sugar again 15 minutes later. If it's still too low, have another gram carbohydrate serving. Then test again in 15 minutes. If you haven't finished your workout, you can continue once your blood sugar returns to a safe level.

You may need to have more snacks or a meal to raise it to that safe range. Check your blood sugar as soon as you finish exercising. Check it again throughout 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 tougher your workout, the longer it will affect your blood sugar. Low blood sugar can happen even 4 to 8 hours after exercise.

Having a snack with slower-acting carbohydrates after your workout can help prevent a drop in your blood sugar. These types of snacks include a granola bar, trail mix and dried fruit. If you do have low blood sugar after exercise, eat a small snack that has carbohydrates.

For example, you could have fruit, crackers or glucose tablets. Exercise is great for your health in many ways. But if you have diabetes, testing your blood sugar before, after and sometimes during exercise may be just as important.

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Request Appointment. Diabetes and exercise: When to monitor your blood sugar. Products and services. Diabetes and exercise: When to monitor your blood sugar Exercise is a key part of any diabetes treatment plan. By Mayo Clinic Staff.

Thank you for subscribing! Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry. Show references American Diabetes Association. Facilitating positive health behaviors and well-being to improve health outcomes: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes — Diabetes Care.

Riddell MC. Exercise guidance in adults with diabetes mellitus. Accessed Aug. Diabetes diet, eating and physical activity.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.

Department of Health and Human Services. Hypoglycemia Low blood glucose. American Diabetes Association. Colberg SR, et al. Palermi S, et al. The complex relationship between physical activity and diabetes: An overview. Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology.

Scott SN, et al. Clinical considerations and practical advice for people living with type 2 diabetes who undertake regular exercise or aim to exercise competitively. Diabetes Spectrum. Zaharieva DP, et al. Practical aspects and exercise safety benefits of automated insulin delivery systems in type 1 diabetes.

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Any time is better than never, but new research Blooe you can score sugaar more blood conrtol benefits BCAA supplements for recovery after intense workouts carving out time to sweat during this BCAA supplements for recovery after intense workouts of day. Karla Walsh is a Des Moines, Iowa-based freelance writer, editor, level one sommelier and former fitness instructor and personal trainer who balances her love of food and drink with her passion for fitness. Or tries to, at least! Her writing has been published in AllRecipes, Runner's World, Shape and Fitness Magazines, as well as on EatingWell. com, Shape. com, BHG.