5 ways to prevent exercise-induced hypoglycemia

This Week's Tip 5 ways to prevent exercise-induced hypoglycemia Although beneficial for people with diabetes, exercise can cause your blood glucose levels to drop too much, especially if you take insulin or any glucose-lowering medications. Symptoms of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) tend to happen suddenly and include feeling shaky, light-headed, weak, confused, anxious, fatigued, irritable, or hungry; headache; breaking out into a clammy sweat; or even fainting. This can occur during exercise, right after exercise, or even up to 24 hours after you finish a workout. In rare cases, individuals may not experience any symptoms at all. By paying close attention to how you're feeling, and by knowing how to treat low blood sugar symptoms correctly, you can prevent problems before they put you at risk of injury. To prevent exercise-related hypoglycemia: If you take insulin, do not inject insulin near the primary muscles that will be used during exercise (typically the thighs or back of the arms), because it will be absorbed too quickly. Check your blood glucose level before you exercise and make any necessary adjustments based on your glucose reading before you start exercising. Do not skip planned meals before exercise or go too long without eating. Carry an easy-to-consume glucose source (such as juice, hard candy, or glucose tablets) when you exercise. Drink plenty of water before and during exercise as dehydration can affect glucose levels. Carbohydrate Counting Tips for Exercisers with Diabetes More Tips for People with Diabetes   Diabetes Friendly Recipe Baked Chicken with Garlic and Sun Dried Tomatoes Garlic lovers, rejoice! This recipe contains a whopping two heads, but the flavor mellows and sweetens when baked. Get the Recipe See More Lower-Carb Recipes Nutritional Info Servings Per Recipe: 4  Amount Per Serving  Calories: 239.3 Total Fat: 7.1 g Cholesterol: 71.1 mg Sodium: 249.1 mg Total Carbs: 12.5 g   Dietary Fiber: 1.8 g Protein: 28.7 g View full nutritional breakdown of Baked Chicken with Garlic and Sun Dried Tomatoes by ingredient     From Our Diabetes Community Lower cholesterol and good for everyone (Secrets of Success) points, points , points (Team Forum) More Secrets of Success... More Forum Posts...       Was this e-mail forwarded to you by a friend? Join the mailing list. Change your e-mail address   You get 1 SparkPoint for reading today's email.   You received this email because you signed up for one of SparkPeople's email newsletters. To unsubscribe please do not reply to this message. Instead, you can use this link to unsubscribe from this newsletter. To remove yourself by postal mail, send a letter or postcard with your email address to: SparkPeople.com, 310 Culvert Street Suite 301, Cincinnati, OH 45202 SparkPeople.com offers general information and is for educational purposes only. sparkpeople.com is not a prescription system and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should consult your health-care provider before starting any nutrition or fitness program, and should consult with your provider about any concerns or questions. © 1999-2014 SparkPeople, All Rights Reserved | Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy