A client with type 1 diabetes begins an exercise program. Which instruction should the nurse include?

A client with type 1 diabetes begins an exercise program. Which instruction should the nurse include?

• A. Try to exercise before mealtime.
• B. Administer insulin after exercising.
• C. Take a blood glucose test before exercising.
• D. Exercise should be performed during peak times of insulin.

Answer: (C)

Before starting any new exercise plan, a person with type 1 diabetes should check blood glucose to guide what to do next. Exercise changes how the body uses insulin and glucose, and it can cause blood sugar to drop quickly during activity and even after you finish. By testing glucose before you begin, you can decide if you need a small carbohydrate snack to prevent hypoglycemia, or if you should adjust insulin dosing to stay safe. If the pre-exercise glucose is low, treating with quick-acting carbohydrates before you start is important, and you would reassess after a short interval. If it’s in a safe range and there are no signs of ketosis, you can proceed, but continue to monitor during and after exercise because lows can occur later. If glucose is very high, especially with ketones, exercise might not be advisable until those levels come down, since it can worsen metabolic imbalance. Other strategies that some might consider—like exercising after inserting insulin or during the peak action of insulin, or always trying to fit exercise before meals without accounting for meal timing and carbohydrate intake—increase the risk of unpredictable glucose shortfalls or spikes. The pre-exercise glucose check is the best first step to tailor what comes next and keep exercise safe.

Before starting any new exercise plan, a person with type 1 diabetes should check blood glucose to guide what to do next. Exercise changes how the body uses insulin and glucose, and it can cause blood sugar to drop quickly during activity and even after you finish. By testing glucose before you begin, you can decide if you need a small carbohydrate snack to prevent hypoglycemia, or if you should adjust insulin dosing to stay safe.

If the pre-exercise glucose is low, treating with quick-acting carbohydrates before you start is important, and you would reassess after a short interval. If it’s in a safe range and there are no signs of ketosis, you can proceed, but continue to monitor during and after exercise because lows can occur later. If glucose is very high, especially with ketones, exercise might not be advisable until those levels come down, since it can worsen metabolic imbalance.

Other strategies that some might consider—like exercising after inserting insulin or during the peak action of insulin, or always trying to fit exercise before meals without accounting for meal timing and carbohydrate intake—increase the risk of unpredictable glucose shortfalls or spikes. The pre-exercise glucose check is the best first step to tailor what comes next and keep exercise safe.