Hi there and welcome! I am not a Dr, but here is my opinion.
For me, I try to be rather careful when exercising. I test before, often during (depending on time and intensity) and afterwards. If I am at a normal BGL, I will actually eat a couple of slices of apple while working out as the exercise will generally drop me down further. I also keep a few starbursts in my testing kit. At the gym that I work out at, I also informed the staff that I am Diabetic as I don't wear a medical alert bracelet. Exercise has so many benefits, it is certainly something you have to do, but also be careful as Type 1's tend to have some fairly wild swings. Moderate aerobic exercise is always good and maybe mix in some light strength training to work various muscles. Swimming is a great combo and works most if not all of your major muscle groups.
The way it works is, when you exercise, your body uses glucose for energy. During the first 15 minutes of working out, your body converts glycogen stored in your muscles back into glucose, and also uses the glucose circulating in your bloodstream for fuel. This causes the natural blood-glucose-lowering effect of exercise. After fifteen minutes, your body turns to the liver to convert its glycogen stockpile into glucose energy. After about thirty minutes, your cells will also begin to burn free fatty acids for fuel. Once the glycogen stores are used up, without a carb refueling in the form of food, hypoglycemia is a real danger (which is why I eat a couple of apple slices as I work out, to try to keep things balanced).
You might want to check out this article.
Taken from
Type 1 DiabetesDietary Goals and Exercise - Type 1 Diabetes Health Information - NY Times Health
Because glucose levels swing dramatically during workouts, people with type 1 diabetes need to take certain precautions:
- Monitor glucose levels carefully before, during, and after workouts.
- Avoid exercise if glucose levels are above 300 mg/dL or under 100 mg/dL.
- To avoid hypoglycemia, patients should inject insulin in sites away from the muscles they use the most during exercise.
- Before exercising, avoid alcohol and if possible certain drugs, including beta-blockers, which increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
- Insulin-dependent athletes may need to decrease insulin doses or take in more carbohydrates, especially in the form of pre-exercise snacks. Skim milk is particularly helpful. They should also drink plenty of fluids.
- Good, protective footwear is essential to help avoid injuries and wounds to the feet.
Cheers!
Jeremy