Exercise Advice for Type 1 Diabetes Patient
Adjustment to exercise depends upon individual factors and each person with Type 1 diabetes should seek advice from the diabetes clinic. It is only possible to give general advice here.
- If the exercise is gentle, there is probably no need to adjust either insulin dose or carbohydrate intake, but monitor blood glucose levels carefully.
- If the exercise is unplanned, more active or carried out for a relatively short period, you may need to eat a carbohydrate-containing snack during and after carrying it out. Monitor blood glucose levels carefully.
- Plan ahead if the exercise is to be active and/or prolonged. Reduce the pre-exercise insulin dose, according to clinical advice and monitor blood glucose levels before, during and after exercise and note the results. Begin the exercise 1 to 2 hours after eating a meal and have suitable carbohydrate snacks and drinks with you that you can take when needed. Ideally, always exercise at the same time of day so that it is easier to monitor the effects of adjusting the insulin dose/carbohydrate intake and to know what you need to do to avoid problems.
- Even if blood glucose levels are high after exercise, do not miss out normal meals and snacks that you eat at regular times. hypoglycaemia can still occur in these circumstances, often many hours later as glucose stores used up during exercise are replenished. Refraining from eating only increases the risk.
- Never omit an insulin dose.
- Due to the risk of hypoglycaemia, some dangerous sports are ill-advised, particularly if undertaken alone. The governing bodies of certain sports (some forms of motor racing, scuba diving, solo sailing, hang-gliding), prohibit participation by insulin-treated people. Diabetes UK is able to advise on the nature of any restrictions that may apply to particular sports.
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