During exercise, glucose is the body’s primary source of energy. Blood glucose (sugar) response to exercise depends on whether the body needs fuel quickly or gradually.
Exercise and types of diabetes
Regardless of the type of diabetes you have, regular physical activity is important for your overall health and wellness. Physical activity recommendations may vary by diabetes.
If you have type 1 diabetes, you know how challenging it can be to manage blood sugar levels and exercise! It is extremely important to know your blood sugar levels, before, during and after exercise and to make adjustments accordingly.
For people with type 2 diabetes, physical activity helps to decrease insulin resistance, and contributes to improved blood sugar control. In addition, exercise can help reduce the risk of other complications, such as heart problems. Additional benefits include better weight management, improved mood, reduced blood pressure, stronger bones, better energy – to name just a few!
If you have prediabetes, one way to help reduce the chance of developing type 2 diabetes is to exercise regularly, along with healthy eating and weight loss.
Diabetes at different life stages
Children with or without diabetes benefit from exercise. It is recommended that children and youth build up to 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day. Reducing sedentary behaviour by limiting after-school TV and video game time to no more than 2 hours per day is equally important as encouraging physical activity. Check out some ideas about exercising as a family.
For children with type 1 diabetes, or those with type 2 who use insulin, make sure that they always have a source of fast-acting sugar, such as juice, glucose tabs, or candy.
If you are a senior living with diabetes and you haven’t exercised much in the past, it is never too late to start!
If you have pre-existing diabetes and become pregnant or have gestational diabetes, exercise can help control your blood glucose levels. Your healthcare team can help you develop an exercise plan that is appropriate for you and your baby.
Best fitness gear for those with diabetes: endless options!
At Diabetes Care Community, a frequent complaint we hear when it comes to starting a fitness program is the overwhelming variety and choice of exercise equipment. It’s hard to know what to buy and how much to spend. We created this handy guide for you to simplify the process.
Rucking: our favourite new exercise trend
Rucking is the simple act of taking extra weight along for a walk. It has evolved out of hiking, and it is a fantastic way to add more intense cardiovascular exercise to your routine while enjoying all the benefits of walking.
Diabetes and exercise for seniors
While scanning the discussion forum of Diabetes Care Community, I came across a post: My dad is 74 with type 2. His doctor says he should be exercising. Well probably he should but hes never really been a sporty or physically active kind of person. How can you make someone change at that age?
Exercise management for type 1 diabetes
It can be difficult for people with type 1 diabetes to manage their blood sugar levels during periods of exercise. Read this article to learn about exercise management in type 1 diabetes.
Do the activity guidelines apply for kids with diabetes?
As described in our article about the New activity and non-activity guidelines for kids, the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines (CPAG) recommend that children over five should get at least 60 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity exercise each day. But many parents are unsure whether these guidelines can be safely applied for youth with type 1 diabetes.
