THE exercise effect

Movement in every season is key for managing BGLs (and boosting your mood), so don’t hold back!

But be aware that being more active than usual may affect your BGLs.

Long backyard play sessions with the kids, Sunday bushwalks with the family or days spent at a theme park all result in extra exercise that could make you hungrier and cause low BGLs, depending on your medications. So prepare by bringing good snack options with you.

Hot temps call for an additional layer of caution – be sure to stay hydrated.

If you take diabetes medications, Soper recommends checking your BGLs before and after activity. This can be a great motivator too! She explains if you notice your BGLs went from 3.3 to 6.7mmol/L after a 45-minute post-dinner walk, you may find it really motivating to stay active.

If you take insulin or any medication that might cause hypoglycaemia, you’re going to want to be prepared by taking your monitor and a source of fast-acting carbs with you, says McKittrick. “If you feel weird – weak, headachy, shaky – check your blood [glucose]. Symptoms of heat exhaustion and dehydration are similar and can mimic those of low BGLs,” she says. And problems can arise if you treat hypoglycaemia when you aren’t experiencing a low. If your BGLs are normal, those symptoms may be a sign you need to drink water and cool down in a shaded area. But if your BGLs are low, follow the “15 every 15” rule, says McKittrick. That means eating 15g of carbs (6-7 jelly beans, ½ cup juice or regular soft drink, or 3 tsp sugar or honey), then waiting for 15 minutes and checking.

Not on insulin? You’ll still want to take a healthy snack for a burst of energy when you need it. If you continue to feel faint or ill after snacking, hydrating, and/or cooling down, seek medical attention.