Exercise and Type 2 Diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes and you are on insulin, you will face issues similar to those of a
person with type 1 diabetes (see the tips and advice in the preceding section), except that generally, your
glucose levels will be more stable. This is principally because most patients with type 2 diabetes still have
functioning beta cells in their pancreas, with a significant contribution of their own
insulin.
If you take oral diabetes medications, you cannot assume that your health will be fine when you
exercise: if you take sulfonylureas, nateglinide, or repaglinide, you can get low glucose levels with exercise.
Prepare for this by taking your meter and some glucose tablets or juice with you. If hypoglycemia occurs when
you exercise, talk to your doctor about reducing the dose of your sulfonylurea
medication.
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