Trainer Tuesday: What are Some Precautions Someone With Diabetes Should Take While Exercising?

Trainer Tuesdays

Welcome back to the weekly edition on Trainer Tuesdays. Make sure to check in at our blog every Tuesday evening to learn the expertise of our great staff. Aside from being fantastic exercise coaches, they are also extremely knowledgeable in many aspects of health and fitness; so, it's time that you get to know them a little better! Each week, we will post a frequently asked, or sometimes just a fun fitness related question followed by the answers of each of the trainers at Fitness Together Brecksville.

What are Some Precautions Someone With Diabetes Should Take While Exercising?

Adam Teplitz: This question actually hits close to home. My younger brother is a type 1 diabetic. However, this doesn't hinder him from exercising. Exercise can benefit diabetics, but proper precautions must be followed. A doctor's approval should always initially be obtained. It's important to always carry food or glucose tablets with you so that you'll be ready to treat hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).  Carry your glucose meter with you and check your blood sugar before and after exercise. If your blood sugar is 80 or below prior to exercise, you should take in 15 to 20 grams of carbohydrates. If you're exercising for more than an hour, check your glucose at regular intervals during the workout.
Be sure to wear socks and shoes that are comfortable and fit well to help prevent foot irritation. After you exercise, check your feet for blisters, sores and cuts. Foot irritations that are not treated can lead to serious infection. Don't forget to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids during the workout.
If you feel like your blood sugar is extremely low or high, stop the workout immediately.

Monika Cotter: While exercising is great for your body it can be hard for people with diabetes since it enhances the absorption of insulin which can cause blood glucose levels to decrease. Some of the precautions (after medical clearance has been given by a doctor)  that should be taken are to eat carbohydrates before a training sessions and if needed during the sessions to keep glucose levels up. Bring a fast acting carbohydrate such as glucose tablets with you in case blood sugar drops too low and diabetic clients should wear some form of medical alert which identifies that they have diabetes with an emergency contact in case of something unexpected happening.

Bronson Rotaru: Some important basic precautions to remember when exercising with diabetes are 1) you're going to want to check with your physician first to make sure you can begin a exercise program. 2) It's really important to monitor your blood sugar levels both before and after exercising. Exercise makes your blood sugar levels drop quickly so this is critical. You can eat prior to exercise or even make adjustments to your insulin. Finally,  when performing exercises you're going to want to refrain from being on your back, like with a bench press position, standing exercises are safer to do.

Lisa Clark: People with diabetes are encouraged to exercise regularly for better control of their blood sugar and to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, however there are some precautions which people with diabetes must take to avoid problems. Exercise can lower your blood sugar both during exercise and for up to 12 hours afterwards, therefore it is recommended to always carry a fast acting carbohydrate such as a fruit juice or Gatorade a packet of honey,  maybe a handful of jellybeans or some hard candy. Check your blood sugar before exercise and monitor it carefully during and after exercise as well. You may need to decrease your insulin does prior to exercise and if possible avoid injecting right into the limb you plan to exercise. It is also important to wear cotton socks and well fitting, comfortable shoes.  Be aware of any numbness in your feet. Without proper care, even minor foot problems can turn into a more serious condition. Make sure to stay well hydrated, and drink enough fluid to minimize any weight loss during exercise. Always carry a medical ID with you and if possible work out with a friend who is aware of your medical condition.

Steven Madden: Diabetes is becoming more and more common in people in the U.S.  Diabetics are almost always encouraged to exercise to help manage their diabetes.  However, this will posse some complications.  Here are some things to consider.    Always pay attention to potential pain in the hands and feet.  Should an exercise cause a problem there, discontinue the exercise.  Also, check the feet in particular to make sure none of the activities are causing any open wounds to develop on the feet, as there can be some serious diabetic complication.

Clients with both types of diabetes can suffer from exercise-induced hypoglycemia, a condition that can cause undue anxiety or shakiness; changes in gait and coordination; inability to think or see clearly; excessive perspiration; dizziness; nausea; loss of consciousness; and even coma. Exercise-induced hypoglycemia is caused by a lack of glucose in the blood.  To avoid this, diabetics should monitor their blood glucose both before and after exercise, and they should avoid exercise during the peak time of insulin.

If you have diabetes, research has shown that strength training can improve insulin sensitivity, improve glucose tolerance, help you lose weight, and lower your risk for heart disease.  However, you need to consider your injection site.  You do want to avoid developing the muscles at the injection site too much, as too dense muscle tissue can make insulin injections harder and more painful.

Working smart, exercise can help to manage diabetes.

Taynee Pearson: Whether a person has type I diabetes or type II diabetes, it is important to take precautions while partaking in an exercise program. Exercise can lower a person's blood sugar during and after exercise. Some precautions can be made before, during, and after exercise such as checking your blood sugar levels before and after a exercise routine, and carry a fast acting carbohydrate snack with you to your workout. A person who suffers from diabetes needs to make sure they drink plenty of water too during the activity. From a trainers point of view, it is important to make sure we keep checking on the client every 10 to 15 mins to make sure they don't feel light headed or dizzy. We also need to make sure the workout intensity isn't too hard, it needs to be more constant and the duration of exercise should remain the same every time. Exercise is surely beneficial for diabetics as it helps them keep their weight at a constant and will help improve their overall health.

Kelly Bailey: Exercise is a great way to help diabetics control blood glucose levels and is often a cornerstone of a diabetes treatment plan. That being said, diabetics need to take some special precautions. First and foremost, talk to your doctor about the type of exercise you plan to do. If you take medications or insulin, your doctor may need to make changes to the dose or the timing of your medications. You may need to check your blood sugar before, during, and after exercise so that you know how exercise affects your blood sugar. Diabetics should always carry a small carb-based snack with them in case blood sugar dips too low. If you exercise alone, you should be wearing a medical ID bracelet that identifies you as a diabetic. If you are exercising with a friend or trainer, that person should be aware that you have diabetes and what action to take should you begin to experience complications during exercise. Lastly, weight training is shown to be beneficial to diabetics, but lifting extremely heavy weights may be contraindicated because of problems with eye pressure.

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