Hormonal
Athletes with Type 1 Diabetes should maintain pre-exercise blood glucose levels between 7.0–10.0 mmol/L to offset the risk of hypoglycemia, as exercise increases glucose disposal via GLUT4 translocation and insulin sensitivity.
If you have Type 1 Diabetes and are about to exercise, check your blood sugar. If it is below 7.0 mmol/L, do not start exercising yet. Eat carbohydrates or reduce your insulin dose until your blood sugar is between 7.0 and 10.0 mmol/L. This higher starting point acts as a buffer against the blood sugar drop that happens during exercise, keeping you safe and allowing you to perform.
Prior to and during aerobic activity, the suggested goal blood glucose concentration (BGC) is greater (7.0–10.0 mmol/L) than it is during non-exercise (4.0–7.0 mmol/L)... Starting glucose levels between 7 mmoL/L 10.0 mmol/L are typically sufficient to offset the risk of hypoglycemia.
Why this rating
The recommendation is based on expert consensus (Grade C) and clinical guidelines rather than a single high-quality RCT.
Source
Nutritional considerations for athletes with diabetes: optimizing performance and glycemic control
Liguang Xu et al. · Frontiers in Nutrition · 2026
DOI 10.3389/fnut.2026.1737219
More from this paper
- Carbohydrate intake of 3–12 g/kg/day, adjusted for exercise duration and intensity, is recommended for athletes with diabetes to optimize glycogen storage and performance.Moderate
- Sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) reduce HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose, and body weight in Type 2 Diabetic athletes, but pose risks of hypovolemia, dehydration, and euglycemic DKA.Weak
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