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Exercise » Devices & Activity » Smart Pens for Exercise

Smart Insulin Pens and Exercise

Smart insulin pens (or smart pens) can help you make informed decisions around exercise if you use multiple daily injections (MDI). For more information on smart insulin pens, check out our device library.

Device Library

Smart pens can help manage diabetes during exercise by Vieira G. Connected Insulin Pens: Here are Today’s "Smart Pen” Options. T1D Exchange. December 6, 2023. Accessed August 23, 2024. https://t1dexchange.org/connected-insulin-pen-options/|https://t1dexchange.org/connected-insulin-pen-options/ Heinemann L, Schnell O, Gehr B, Schloot NC, Görgens SW, Görgen C. Digital Diabetes Management: A Literature Review of Smart Insulin Pens. J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2022;16(3):587-595. doi:10.1177/1932296820983863 |https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1932296820983863 Heinemann L, Schnell O, Gehr B, Schloot NC, Görgens SW, Görgen C. Digital Diabetes Management: A Literature Review of Smart Insulin Pens. J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2022;16(3):587-595. doi:10.1177/1932296820983863 | https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1932296820983863 :

  • Tracking Insulin Levels: Keep track of how much insulin works in your body (insulin on board or IOB), which can help you make decisions during exercise (for example, when and how much to eat to reduce the risk of lows).
  • Smart Pens and Fitness Trackers: Many smart pens can connect to apps on your smartphone that combine your insulin information with your blood glucose data, like Apple Health, Google Fit, Glooko, and mySugr. The Lilly Tempo Pen even connects directly to compatible fitness trackers Fitbit and Garmin to provide additional insights on activity and diabetes management.
  • Adjusting Insulin Doses: Can suggest ways to change your insulin doses before, during, and after exercise to keep your blood glucose in target glucose range, like increasing or decreasing your insulin dose based on your current glucose level and exercise plans.
  • Preventing High or Low Blood Glucose: Can help you avoid having too high or too low blood glucose by giving you dose reminders and alerts through the app.
  • Recording Data: Can keep track of your exercise and insulin use in the app, which helps you and your doctor make more informed choices about your diabetes care.

Smart Pen Options

Many smart pen systems have features and integrations for exercise. These features can help track insulin on board before and after physical activity. Below is a table showing some of the different physical activity options you can use with smart insulin pens from Bigfoot Unity, Lilly Diabetes, Medtronic, and Novo Nordisk T1D Exchange. Smart Insulin Pen Benefits. Available at: https://t1dexchange.org/smart-insulin-pen-benefits/. Accessed September 12, 2024|https://t1dexchange.org/smart-insulin-pen-benefits/ .

julie

You can see where you are running high or low. Also the doctors can look at your recent numbers and see where you stand as far as your A1C levels.

Julie

Yogini, Meditator, Traveler, Tree Hugger, Researcher, Birder
kahla

Using a pump gives you freedom.

Kahla

Nurse, Mother
Laura Crossfit DWE Wisdom v4

I also check fingersticks during exercise, because when my blood sugars are dropping quickly, the CGM readings may lag behind my actual glucose values.  I always trust my instincts, and if I feel like I'm getting sleepy all of a sudden while exercising, I know to double-check to be sure my blood sugars aren't dropping.

Laura