Exercise works so well at bringing down your blood sugar that you need to make sure it doesn’t drop too low. You’ll want to time exercise to your medication or insulin schedule, but you should also be prepared to deal with hypoglycemia if it occurs.
- Know the signs. Confusion, shaking, lightheadedness, or difficulty speaking all indicate that you should quit exercising immediately.
- Have a snack handy. When blood sugar is too low, you can quickly bring it back up with a low-fat, high-carb snack, such as 10 small jelly beans or 1/2 cup of nondiet soft drink or juice.
- Use the buddy system. Try to walk or work out with someone who could lend a hand in an emergency.
- Carry identification. Even if you’re just strolling through the neighborhood, carry ID with your name, address, and phone number, along with emergency information such as how to reach your doctor and the dosages of your medication or insulin.