There are two diabetes related things that can happen when we exercise
- our liver dumps glucose because it thinks we need extra fuel
- our muscles suck up the extra glucose and uses insulin more efficiently.
Therefore, the impact of exercise depends on how we use these two things.
If the exercise is stressing us (e.g, out of breath or causing pain), our levels will continue to rise. This will happen if we are not used to that type of exercise (e.g. I frequently walk and cycle but if I try to run, my levels will always rise).
If the exercise (and our heart rate rise) is short (or intermittent), we will not reach the point of insulin efficiency. HIIT (High intensity Interval training) is more likely to raise levels than constant low intensity training.
I exercise frequently and find the impact varies. This is best illustrated with cycling
- if I pootle along a flat tow path chatting to my friends, my BG will remain reasonably flat
- if I do a Spin class going flat out for 30 minutes, my BG will plummet
- if I slog up a steep hill against the wind in the pouring rain, my levels with soar.