Diabetes and Exercise-Rules for Safe Exercise

Rules for Safe Exercises

• Avoid exercising when blood glucose is more than 250mg/dl and ketones are positive in urine
• Carry food or glucose tablets when undertaking exercise in case there are episodes of hypoglycemia
• Do not skip meals especially prior to exercise
• Take a quick-acting carbohydrate (sweetened tea or milk, regular soft drink) when blood glucose is less than100mg/dl or if one experiences symptoms of hypoglycemia - headaches, increased sweating, feeling of hunger, trembling or shakiness, rapid heart rate or palpitations, drowsiness and mental confusion

• Avoid exercise when

  blood glucose is more than 300mg/dl

• Avoid exercise outdoors on very hot or humid days. One can get heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Wear a hat or sunscreen - if necessary in such conditions
• In warm weather, dress in light-colored and loose-fitting cotton clothing
• To prevent dehydration, drink a cup of cold water before and after you exercise
• If exercising for longer than 30 minutes or if the workout leads to a lot of sweating drink water during the workout
• Always carry a diabetes identification card, duly filled, while exercising
• Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration
• Avoid exercise at the peak action time of insulin
• Avoid injecting insulin in the muscle that is to be used for exercise

• Check with your health care team about the best time to exercise before commencing any physical activity
• Always use correct type of shoes to avoid injury and check them regularly for wear and tear
• After exercise, check the feet for any blisters or sores
• Be aware of the warning signs of heart problems such as chest, left arm or jaw pain, dizziness, fainting and shortness of breath during exercise
• Learn how to measure pulse rate so that a self-check can be done to look for any irregular pulse, especially if there is heart condition that has been diagnosed