What should you know about type 2 diabetes and physical exercise?

Working muscles use glucose for energy and can become more responsive to insulin during and after activity. Walking, cycling, swimming, resistance exercises and active daily tasks may all contribute. The response varies with the intensity and duration of exercise, your food intake, and medicines such as insulin or medicines that increase insulin release.

Foot sensation, circulation, eyesight, heart symptoms and joint problems affect which activities are suitable. Peripheral neuropathy or peripheral arterial disease may make foot protection and gradual progression especially important.

Start with an activity you can repeat comfortably, warm up, and increase the workload gradually. Wear well-fitting footwear, inspect your feet after exercise and carry a source of fast-acting carbohydrate if your clinician advises it. Check glucose when your care plan recommends, particularly when changing activity or using medicines that can cause hypoglycaemia.

Drink fluids, avoid exercising through illness without advice, and keep a record of activity alongside glucose readings. Ask for an exercise referral if you have chest discomfort, breathlessness, kidney disease, eye disease or longstanding diabetes complications.

Stop exercising and seek urgent help for chest pressure, severe breathlessness, fainting, new weakness, confusion or difficulty speaking. Get medical advice for persistent dizziness, repeated low readings, a foot blister that does not settle, or a wound with spreading redness and warmth. Sudden neurological symptoms may indicate a stroke and need emergency care.

Ask which activities match your heart, feet, eyes and joints; when to check glucose; whether medicines need timing changes; and what reading or symptom means you should stop. Request a personalised sick-day and hypoglycaemia plan if exercise is new to you.