How does exercise affect my childs blood sugar level?
Exercise usually helps lower your child’s blood sugar. This is because insulin is more effective during exercise. The number of insulin receptors, the places where insulin attaches to cell membranes to allow sugar to pass into the cell, actually increases as a result of regular exercise. This makes the body more sensitive to insulin, the insulin can work more efficiently, and usually a lower daily dose is required. Exercising can be a very effective way to lower a high blood sugar (as long as ketones are not present). Sometimes blood sugars go up with exercise. This may be because your child is excited and is releasing adrenaline (a hormone, also called epinephrine). This is a normal response in people with or without diabetes. The adrenaline causes sugar to be released from stores in the muscle and liver and raises the blood sugar for varying periods of time. This usually happens in the first hour of exercise.
