Most of us with diabetes hear constantly that we should exercise. But data from the Mayo Clinic indicates that a diabetic should check their blood sugar before, during, and after exercise. When taking insulin or other medications that lower your blood sugar level it's prudent to test your blood sugar 30 minutes before exercising, then again immediately before exercising. This will enable you to determine whether your blood sugar is stable, rising, or falling and give you more insight into whether you can exercise safely. Below are some general guidelines to follow, using your test results:
Below 100mg/dL - May be too low to exercise safely.
100 to 250 mg/dL - You're good to go. Exercise away!
250 mg/dL or Higher - Caution, check for excess ketones. Excess ketones indicate not enough insulin present to control blood sugar.
300 mg/dL or higher - May be too high to exercise safely. Check for ketoacidosis. Wait until blood sugar drops to a safe range.
