Exercising safely with type 1 diabetes

The benefits of exercise for health and wellbeing are well recognised. But when you have type 1 diabetes, exercise becomes another part of the delicate balancing act and can sometimes seem to make it harder to manage your diabetes. By understanding how exercise affects blood glucose levels and learning how you respond to different types of exercise, you can enjoy the benefits that regular exercise provides without upsetting the balance. DL dietitian and diabetes educator Dr Kate Marsh explains.

Why exercise?

There are many benefits to exercising regularly. Regular exercise:

› Improves insulin sensitivity, which means you need less insulin to manage blood glucose levels.› Helps with weight management and reducing body fat levels.› Lowers blood pressure and blood fats and improves the health of your blood vessels.› Reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke.› Improves bone strength–this is important, as several studies have found lower bone density and a higher risk of osteoporosis in people with type 1.› Helps to manage stress and reduces anxiety and› Improves quality of life.