Understanding Barriers
If done safely, every person with diabetes can benefit from exercise. However, many people find it hard to exercise regularly. Some problems are specific to diabetes, while others are about finding the time and energy to exercise. Below, we have created a word cloud showing the common barriers that may stop many people from participating in physical activity Brazeau AS, Mircescu H, Desjardins K, Dubé MC, Weisnagel SJ, Lavoie C, Rabasa-Lhoret R. The Barriers to Physical Activity in Type 1 Diabetes (BAPAD-1) scale: predictive validity and reliability. Diabetes Metab. 2012 Apr;38(2):164-70. doi: 10.1016/j.diabet.2011.10.005. Epub 2011 Dec 20. PMID: 22192621| doi: 10.1016/j.diabet.2011.10.005. Epub 2011 Dec 20. PMID: 22192621| Brazeau AS, Nakhla M, Wright M, Henderson M, Panagiotopoulos C, Pacaud D, Kearns P, Rahme E, Da Costa D, Dasgupta K. Stigma and Its Association With Glycemic Control and Hypoglycemia in Adolescents and Young Adults With Type 1 Diabetes: Cross-Sectional Study. J Med Internet Res. 2018 Apr 20;20(4):e151. doi: 10.2196/jmir.9432. PMID: 29678801; PMCID: PMC5935805.| doi: 10.2196/jmir.9432. PMID: 29678801; PMCID: PMC5935805 :
Choosing your device to fit your activity levels is an incredibly personal decision. Here is some wisdom from others:
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
Keep it as simple as you want to.
Chad
It was kind of like a weight lifted off my shoulders because I didn’t have to worry about doing all that stuff anymore. I was able to just test my sugar, put in the carbs I'm eating, and that was it.