Safety Tips
Exercise with diabetes does demand a few extra safety steps.
You'll find that, once you're into regular exercise, these
will become a part of your routine. And the rewards of exercise
are well worth a little extra effort.
BEFORE BEGINNING ANY TYPE OF EXERCISE PROGRAM SEE YOUR PHYSICIAN
FOR MEDICAL CLEARANCE.
WEAR A MEDICAL ALERT IDENTIFICATION BRACELET OR NECKLACE,
OR CARRY AN IDENTIFICATION CARD WHEN YOU EXERCISE.
NEVER EXERCISE IF YOU HAVE HIGH BLOOD SUGAR PLUS KETONES.IT
CAN LEAD TO DIABETIC KETOACIDOSIS .
When beginning an exercise program, check your blood sugar
before, during, and after exercising . ...know why
By monitoring your blood sugar, you can:
Learn your body's response to exercise
Avoid hypoglycemia
Determine an appropriate pre-exercise snack ....know why
But you must take extra food every hour during strenuous
exercise to balance the calories you are burning. And you
must always have fast acting sugar with you in case of a reaction
.
Avoid injecting into parts of your body that will be exercised
during your activity.....know why
Exercise speeds absorption of insulin,If you are planning
leg muscle exercise (jogging, skiing, cycling), inject insulin
into the abdomen or arms. For arm muscle activities (scrubbing
walls, doing push ups, washing the car), inject into the abdomen
or leg. For sports that use all body muscles (swimming, basketball),
the safest place to inject is the abdomen.
Always watch for signs of hypoglycemia .....know why
Don't wait until you finish exercising to treat a reaction.
Stop immediately, treat the reaction, and wait 5 minutes before
resuming activity.
Exercising at the same time each day is beneficial, but not
always possible.....know why
Keep in mind your insulin peak times and avoid exercising
at these times.
Also be aware that exercising at very high or low temperatures
may cause you to burn more calories.
Drink plenty of fluids. ....know why
Sweating means you're losing fluid. It's important to drink
to replace fluids lost in sweat. Water is usually the best
choice. If you are exercising for a long time, you may want
the extra calories in a drink that contains carbohydrate.
Avoid exercising when it's too hot or too cold ....know why
It's unhealthy to exercise outside when air quality is poor.
Remember your feet. Wear the right shoes for your sport.
Take it easy. Slow and steady wins the race. Trying to do
too much too soon can leave you discouraged or even injured.
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