Exercise & Hypoglycemia

Having low blood sugar during or after exercise is not just annoying, it’s potentially dangerous. To prevent lows associated with physical activity, check your blood sugar before and after you exercise and always be prepared to correct a low.

Exercise presents its own special challenges for managing blood sugar. Since any activity increases your body’s use of blood sugar, hypoglycemia can develop during or following exercise. However, the rewards of exercise including overall fitness, weight control, stress release and better blood sugars up to 48 hours after you exercise, make it well worthwhile.

If you or your child participates in a sport, the team coach (and perhaps even team mates) should know about diabetes, hypoglycemia and being prepared to correct a low. The more you understand about what makes your blood sugars go down (or sometimes up) during exercise, the easier it becomes to manage and the more confident you can be about doing activities and staying in control of your diabetes.

Much of your blood sugar response has to do with how much insulin is in your bloodstream, along with how well that insulin is working. If your insulin levels are high during an activity, your muscles will use more blood glucose and you’re more likely to end up with low blood sugar. You can even experience hypoglycemia up to 48 hours after you exercise.