The fear of hypoglycemia and managing blood sugar during exercise is one of the most challenging aspects of diabetes, and the biggest reason people avoid physical activity. One of the most common mistakes people make is disconnecting or suspending their insulin pump right before a workout, expecting it to prevent lows but because insulin takes hours to absorb, glucose levels continue to drop.

In our last episode of Optimizing Diabetes Tech, we discuss the biological impact exercise has on glucose levels, the impact of different types of exercise, timing insulin doses to avoid both high and low blood sugars, and the pros and cons of different insulin pumps’s exercise or activity modes.

ODT is our recurring series focused on using diabetes technology more effectively. We dive deep into practical topics and answer listener questions. Each episode, I am joined by CDCES Gary Scheiner, the Founder of Integrated Diabetes Services. Gary and his team provide personalized diabetes coaching, insulin pump setup and optimization, and CGM and open source AID training. I have worked with them myself on fine-tuning my settings and management strategies. If you are looking to upgrade your diabetes treatment, I highly recommend the team at Integrated Diabetes Services and let them know we sent you!

On the next installment of ODT, we’re covering carb counting. Gary will walk us through the basics, why accuracy is essential for your time in range, and the science behind why certain foods can cause your glucose to do crazy things. You can submit your questions here.

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Disclaimer: Diabetech content is not medical advice—it’s for educational purposes only. Always consult with a healthcare team before making changes to your treatment.