Injuries and Exercise Problems

What Exercise Reveals About Your Health

Your heart’s beating fast, your lungs are working at full capacity, and your muscles and joints are in full swing—take advantage of your workout by evaluating anything that feels off
By Hollis Templeton fitbie
 

High or Low Blood Sugar

“Having blood sugar that is either too high or too low during exercise definitely affects performance,” says Sheri Colberg, PhD, author of Diabetic Athlete’s Handbook. “With highs, the exerciser usually feels sluggish or lethargic and has trouble moving at a normal pace. With lows, the person suddenly starts to feel very tired and slows down. Lows can also cause lack of coordination,” she says.

But a workout slump doesn’t necessarily spell a serious condition, as diabetes or hypoglycemia won’t typically make their first appearances during exercise, says Colberg. “The symptoms of highs or lows can also be caused by a lot of other conditions, so it’s hard to know that they’re related to diabetes or hypoglycemia unless you already know that you have either of these,” she says.

In fact, exercise naturally lowers blood glucose levels as muscles take up glucose and fat for fuel. “Getting low during exercise is not a sign of having diabetes necessarily—it happens to long-distance athletes on many occasions, and they don't have diabetes,” says Colberg.

Of course, using caution is always a safe bet: “Once unusual symptoms occur, it’s wise to bring them up to a doctor at the next checkup, if not sooner,” says Colberg.

Here's what to eat—and cook—to beat diabetes.

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