Do you need to eat a snack before you exercise? You know that exercise will lower your blood glucose level, but does this mean you need to eat before your morning walk?
The answer to the exercise-snack question is personal; it depends on your blood glucose level before exercise and your diabetes medications.
If you take insulin or an oral medication in the class called insulin secretagogues, your blood glucose level should be at least 100 mg/dL before you start to exercise.
If you do not take either of these medications, then your blood glucose level should be above 70 mg/dL (or a level you and your doctor have discussed) prior to exercise.
The best time of the day to exercise is actually after a meal. This helps reduce the rise in blood glucose levels caused by the food you've just consumed. Exercising after a meal also helps to prevent a low blood glucose level from exercise. If your exercise session occurs one to three hours after a meal you likely won't need to have a snack.
If the diabetes medications you take and your blood glucose value before exercise indicate that you'll need a snack, that snack needs to contain at least some carbohydrates. Consider these snack options: a piece of fresh fruit, six to eight ounces of light yogurt, half a sandwich, a granola or cereal bar, or a small bowl of cereal.
How much carb you'll need varies from person to person, so talk with your doctor or diabetes educator about how much carbohydrate is right for you before you exercise.
