Exercise and managing glucose levels with a CGM

Exercise for diabetes requires careful management, as glucose levels can vary during workouts.¹ The Accu-Chek SmartGuide CGM solution provides real-time glucose trends, helping you make informed decisions about insulin and carb intake before, during, and after workouts. 

Exercise is crucial for everyone, especially those with type 1 and 2 diabetes.^2,3 Regular physical activity promotes overall health and plays a vital role in managing glucose levels. Understanding how different types of workouts affect glucose can empower you to make informed lifestyle choices. A Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) system can help track these changes effectively.

Regular exercise strengthens the heart and improves circulation, and can help reduce hypertension, contributing to better cardiovascular health.⁴

Exercise enhances the body's ability to process glucose. During and after physical activity, many may experience:

• Increased insulin sensitivity: Exercise makes the body more responsive to insulin, which is beneficial for glucose management.

A CGM device is particularly useful as it provides real-time glucose readings before, during, and after exercise, allowing users to monitor their levels closely.^1,5

Understanding the differences among exercise types is important for effective glucose management. There are two main types of exercises³:

• Aerobic exercise: Aerobic exercise consists of activities like walking, jogging, swimming, cycling, and gardening. These exercises increase heart rate and oxygen consumption and typically lower glucose levels during the activity.
   
• Anaerobic exercise: Anaerobic exercise involves high-intensity activities like weightlifting or sprinting. These exercises may initially raise glucose levels due to quick energy release from glycogen stores, but can improve insulin sensitivity.⁶

For people with diabetes, managing glucose levels around exercise sessions is crucial. Here are some key strategies⁷:

Pre-workout management

1. Check glucose levels: Always monitor your glucose before starting any physical activity.
    
2. Adjust insulin: Your insulin dosage may need to be adjusted depending on your current levels and planned activity intensity.¹
    
3. Pre-workout snack: Consuming carbohydrates before exercise can help prevent hypoglycaemia during physical activity.⁶  For advice on which carbs are good for you to have before working out, you should always talk to your healthcare team.

During workout⁸

• Continuous monitoring: Use your CGM to keep an eye on glucose trends while exercising. Your CGM  provides alerts if blood sugar levels are too low.
   
• Carry fast-acting carbohydrates like glucose tablets, lemonade, or fruit juice during exercise to quickly address hypoglycaemia if glucose levels are too low.

Post-workout management¹ 

1. Monitor recovery levels: After exercising, keep checking your glucose levels as they may fluctuate.
    
2. Snack wisely: If your levels are too low post-exercise, have a snack that includes carbohydrates and protein to help stabilise them.¹
    
3. Check trends: Review your CGM data to understand how different activities affect your glucose levels over time.
    
4. Be mindful of low blood sugar at night: To lower the risk of nocturnal hypoglycaemia, check your glucose levels, consider a carb paired with protein or fat, adjust basal insulin, or set alarm limits before bedtime.^5,7 Always consult with a healthcare professional to find the best exercise-related therapy adjustments for you personally.

When using a CGM solution during exercise, it's important to set appropriate alarm limits to ensure safety. Unlike a finger-prick blood glucose measurement that provides a snapshot of your levels, a CGM sensor offers continuous glucose values over time, like comparing a photo with a video. The app allows you to see your glucose value at any moment during your workout.

To act based on your CGM data, consult with a healthcare professional when planning a routine, and set alarm limits in the app during exercise⁵:

Keep in mind that there is a lag time between blood and tissue glucose measurements.¹ As a result, the readings on your CGM may not match your actual blood glucose levels when glucose levels fluctuate quickly, as they might during exercise or right after meals. This will help you make informed decisions while exercising.

Here are three examples of one person walking for 20 minutes after each meal. In the app, all three walks show a decrease in glucose levels. As you walk, you can use the trend arrows to see where your levels are going.

A CGM system provides valuable insights into how your body responds to different physical activities:

• Real-time data: Continuous monitoring allows you to see immediate changes in glucose levels.
   
• Trend arrows: These indicators help predict future glucose changes based on current data.
   
• Personalised insights: By reviewing past activities and their impact on your glucose, you can tailor your future exercise plans more effectively.

Understanding how different factors affect your glucose levels — like exercise intensity, duration, and personal training level — can help you make informed decisions and consult your healthcare team about your overall health.

Including exercise in the daily routine is beneficial for everyone, and crucial for those living with diabetes. By understanding how different types of physical activity affect glucose levels and using tools like a CGM system, you can enhance your health outcomes⁵ while enjoying the benefits of an active lifestyle. Always consult with healthcare professionals when making significant changes to your exercise or diabetes management plan.

This content is provided for general information only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely – you must obtain professional or specialist advice from your healthcare professional before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content. Although we make reasonable efforts to ensure that the content is up to date, Roche makes no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content is accurate, complete, up-to-date or that it should be relied upon.