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Our Registered Dietitians are specialists in nutrition. We provide our clients with a personal meal plan that is customized to meet the needs of the individual, based on your lifestyle and food preferences. Contact us today to schedule a visit.

Exercising With Diabetes

Why Should I Exercise?

1. Possible improvement in control of blood glucose since blood glucose is used for energy during exercise.
2. Improved insulin sensitivity, leading to a possible reduction in diabetes medications.
3. Reduction of body fat – a reduced-calorie diet coupled with regular exercise is considered the most effective way to lose body weight, particularly body fat.
4. Decreased risk or improved management of cardiovascular disease.
5. Stress reduction - stress increases blood glucose, urinary ketones, and urine output.
6. Prevention of type 2 diabetes in people with impaired glucose tolerance, gestational diabetes, or a family history of type 2 diabetes.

Do Not Exercise When:

1. You have active retinal bleeding or have had recent treatment for retinopathy, such as laser treatment.
2. You are sick or have an infection.
3. Your blood glucose is greater then 250 mg/dL and ketones are present in the urine (reduce blood glucose with medication before starting exercise).
4. Your blood glucose is less than 100 mg/dL since the risk of hypoglycemia is high (increase blood glucose by eating something before starting exercise).

Take Special Precautions For Exercise:

1. Monitor blood glucose before and after exercise for several hours.
   • Hypoglycemia can still occur several hours after exercise.
   • Exercising late in the evening increases the risk of nocturnal hypoglycemia (while sleeping).
2. Check with your doctor or diabetes educator about medication and/or eating changes:
   • A snack and/or insulin dosage change may be needed 30-60 minutes before exercise.
   • One hour of exercise requires an additional 15 grams of carbohydrate either before or after exercise.
   • Exercise that is vigorous and/or of longer duration may require an additional 15 to 30 grams of carbohydrate per hour.
3. Carry a source of rapidly-acting carbohydrate with you during exercise.
4. Drink adequate fluids before, during and after exercise.
5. Practice good foot care and wear proper shoes with cotton socks.
6. Wear comfortable, loose-fitting, breathable (cotton) clothing.
7. Carry medical identification at all times.