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Skip Navigation LinksHome > Living With Diabetes > Exercise and Diabetes

Exercise and Diabetes

Exercise is important for managing diabetes
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Exercise is one of the top 3 ways for controlling blood sugar, along with following a healthy diabetes meal plan and taking medicine as part of your treatment plan. Exercise is especially important for people with diabetes. Learn more about the benefits of being active.

Before you start

Talk to your doctor before you start an exercise program. Your doctor can help you decide what kind of physical activities are right for you. You'll also want to have a discussion about the diabetes medicines you take, both prescription and over-the-counter. You may need to change the amount you take before you exercise.

Ideas for exercise when you have diabetes

  • Extra daily activity. Chores like walking the dog, cleaning the house, and washing the car are activities you can use to boost your activity level. The idea is to lengthen some of your daily tasks in order to be active longer. You can also replace some daily activities with others. For instance, instead of taking a coffee break or having a snack, you could go for a walk
  • Aerobic exercise. This type of activity means raising your heart rate and probably breaking a sweat. With aerobic exercise, you use the large muscles in your body, such as the ones in your legs. This could include brisk walking or hiking, cycling, basketball or other sports, dancing, or taking an aerobics class at the gym
  • Strength training. Lifting weights or working with resistance can help you build muscle. This type of exercise can help you burn calories more easily, since muscle burns more calories than fat. With larger, stronger muscles, you may find that you have better coordination and balance
  • Stretching. Simple stretches like touching your toes or sitting cross-legged can make your muscles more flexible. It can also help your muscles feel less sore after exercise or a long, active day

How you choose to exercise is less important than finding a way to stay active regularly. Learn more about being active as a part of your life on Cornerstones4Care.com.

Exercise and low blood glucose

It is possible that exercise can cause low blood sugar, also called hypoglycemia. You may have to lower your dose of medicine to avoid low blood sugar while exercising. It may also be a good idea to bring a snack or glucose tablets in case your blood sugar gets too low while you are exercising. After exercising, check to see how it affected your blood sugar level. As always, speak to your doctor if you are concerned about low blood sugar. Learn more about the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia by visiting Cornerstones4Care.com.

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Indications and Usage

What is NovoLog® (insulin aspart [rDNA origin] injection)?

• NovoLog® is a man-made insulin used to control high blood sugar in adults and children with diabetes mellitus.

Important Safety Information

Who should not use NovoLog®?

• Do not use NovoLog® if your blood sugar is too low (hypoglycemia) or you are allergic to any of its ingredients.

What should I tell my health care provider before taking NovoLog®?

• About all of your medical conditions, including liver, kidney, or heart problems.
• If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or plan to do either.
• About all prescription and nonprescription medicines you take, including supplements, as your dose may need to change.

How should I take NovoLog®?

• Eat a meal within 5 to 10 minutes after using NovoLog®, a fast-acting insulin, to avoid low blood sugar. Do not inject NovoLog® if you do not plan to eat right after your injection or bolus pump infusion.
• Do not mix NovoLog® with any other insulin when used in a pump or with any insulin other than NPH when used with injections by syringe.
• Do not change your dose or type of insulin unless you are told to by your health care provider.
• Do not share needles, insulin pens, or syringes.
• Check your blood sugar levels as directed by your health care provider.

What should I consider while using NovoLog®?

• Alcohol, including beer and wine, may affect your blood sugar.
• Be careful when driving a car or operating machinery. You may have difficulty concentrating or reacting if you have low blood sugar. Talk to your health care provider if you often have low blood sugar or no warning signs of low blood sugar.

What are the possible side effects of NovoLog®?

• Low blood sugar, including when too much is taken. Some symptoms include sweating, shakiness, confusion, and headache. Severe low blood sugar can cause unconsciousness, seizures, and death.
• Serious allergic reactions may occur. Get medical help right away, if you develop a rash over your whole body, have trouble breathing, a fast heartbeat, or sweating.
• Other side effects include injection site reactions (like redness, swelling, and itching), skin thickening or pits at the injection site, swelling of your hands and feet, if taken with thiazolidinediones (TZDs) possible heart failure, vision changes, low potassium in your blood, and weight gain.

For more information, please click here for complete NovoLog® Prescribing Information.

NovoLog® is a prescription medicine.

Talk to your doctor about the importance of diet and exercise in your treatment plan.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

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If you need assistance with prescription drug costs, help may be available. Visit pparx.org or call 1-888-4PPA-NOW.

Selected Important Safety Information

What are the possible side effects of NovoLog®?

• Low blood sugar, including when too much is taken. Some symptoms include sweating, shakiness, confusion, and headache. Severe low blood sugar can cause unconsciousness, seizures, and death.

• Other side effects include injection site reactions (like redness, swelling, and itching), skin thickening or pits at the injection site, swelling of your hands and feet, if taken with thiazolidinediones (TZDs) possible heart failure, vision changes, low potassium in your blood, and weight gain.

Please click here for additional Important Safety Information

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