According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), physical activity can lower blood sugar 24 hours or more after your workout. This is because exercise makes your body more sensitive to insulin.

When this occurs, muscles can use insulin more effectively to move blood sugar in the body during and after exercise. Additionally, muscle contraction helps your body use blood sugar for energy, whether insulin is available or not.

When active regularly, it can also lower A1c. However, blood sugar mustn’t get dangerously low due to exercise. The following are a few tips to avoid low blood sugar during exercise.

 

1. Create a Workout Checklist:

2. Treat Low Blood Sugar with the 15-15 Rule:

3. Raise Blood Sugar to a Buffer Target (Before Exercise)

Remember: Buffer targets may change depending on exercise intensity.

4. Take Note of How Different Exercises Change Blood Sugar

Be sure to take note of the time of day and how long you are exercising!

*Note: heavy workouts & exercising on an empty stomach can raise blood sugar.

5. Changing Insulin to Avoid Lows During/After Exercise

Remember: Workout length, intensity, and snacks can make insulin cause low blood sugar. Reducing insulin is another tip to avoid low blood sugar, but it is not always necessary.

 

Summary