Exercising with Type 1 diabetes is a tricky task. Most people with Type 1 diabetes worry about a mid-workout low blood sugar or even a related hypoglycemic event hours later. However, the hypoglycemic risk often depends on the level of exercise, according to a recent article from Diabetes Health.
Many people with Type 1 diabetes are unaware that while moderate physical activity often causes blood sugar levels to crash, vigorous activity actually can raise blood sugar levels. A number of studies have confirmed that when a person is exercising at 80% of their maximum exercise capacity, their blood sugar levels often rise.
Experts say that people exercising at a constant pace for at least several minutes and are breathing heavily enough to prevent them from holding a conversation, they are likely reaching the 80% threshold. Such activities might include running, cycling or swimming. Additionally, exercise that requires alternating between short bursts of energy and periods of moderate intensity may also help people reach the 80% level. Such sports might include football, hockey, basketball, soccer and tennis, among others. Most athletic drills among school-aged children on sports teams will meet this requirement.
This happens because such exercise places stress on the body, raising the heart rate and making breathing more difficult. In an attempt to help, the body’s nervous system prompts the release of adrenaline and nonadrenaline into the blood, which in turn prompts the liver to release glucose more quickly than is usual. Because Type 1 diabetics are unable to produce insulin, the blood sugar-regulating hormone, themselves, their blood sugar levels increase.
Such information is important for people with Type 1 diabetes because exercising with diabetes and avoiding lows can be difficult enough. However, hyperglycemia is also a risk and managing increases in sugar levels is just as important as avoiding lows.
The article recommends that people with Type 1 diabetes understand what kind of exercise they will be undertaking and plan ahead. For example, don’t eat extra carbs before strenuous exercise unless you are already trending low because such exercise is likely to increase sugar levels. Carbs will only compound that problem. Also, do not lower insulin intake during strenuous activity like you might for moderate exercise.
Those exercising at moderate levels may want to reduce insulin intake or eat some extra carbs before the workout.
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