Diabetics are frequently encouraged to exercise to lose weight, yet working out can often be a double-edged sword for individuals with the condition, weight loss can help lessen the severity of some of the symptoms and, in some cases, put diabetes in remission.

On the one hand exercise presents a possible danger to numerous diabetics because it influences blood sugar levels. When we exercise, our body draws on reserved sugar in our muscles and liver (aka glycogen).

Blood sugar levels are affected because sugar from the blood is used to restore those glycogen stores, which can lead to disorientation and discourage some patients from continuing an exercise regimen.

There’s been very little universal guidance on how to do exercise safely. Researchers from Swansea University drew up a landmark agreement on how diabetics should tackle workouts, addressing everything from carbohydrate intake to the severity of workouts which was endorsed by top diabetes research groups, including the American Diabetes Association and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Prior to the work out, diabetics should check their blood sugar levels to see if it’s safe to start exercising. It is suggested that the blood sugar should range from 5.6 to 13.9 mmol/L.

The researchers advise eating carbs that are low on the glycemic index 30-60 minutes prior to the exercise.

While exercising, it is necessarry to ensure the blood sugar level remain within 7.0 to 10.0 mmol/l. If the level fall below 4.0 mmol/l you should stop exercising and consume carbs and wait to continue until levels return to normal. If levels fall below 3.0 mmol/l, no exercise should be done for the rest of the day.

Levels should remain between 4.0 and 10.0 mmol/l for the first 90 minutes after exercise. The report details how much carbs should be consumed depending on the severity of your workout.