Exercise and Activity Flashcards
7 cards from real Diabetes practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Exercise and Activity flashcards as text
During a group fitness class, a person with Type 1 diabetes begins to feel shaky and confused. Their glucometer reads 58 mg/dL. What is the immediate first step?
Answer: Stop exercise and consume 15g of fast-acting carbohydrates immediately
The '15-15 rule' for mild-to-moderate hypoglycemia calls for stopping activity and consuming 15g of fast-acting carbohydrates, then rechecking glucose in 15 minutes.
Which statement about exercise and HbA1c is most accurate?
Answer: Regular exercise can lower HbA1c by approximately 0.5-1.0% in Type 2 diabetes
Meta-analyses show that regular structured exercise reduces HbA1c by approximately 0.5-1.0% in Type 2 diabetes through improved insulin sensitivity and increased glucose utilization.
A diabetic patient is planning to start high-intensity interval training (HIIT). What should they be aware of regarding blood glucose response?
Answer: HIIT can initially raise blood glucose due to catecholamine release before it drops
The intense anaerobic bursts in HIIT trigger adrenaline and cortisol release, which can spike blood glucose during the session, followed by a drop during recovery.
What is the recommended blood glucose target range before starting moderate aerobic exercise for a person with Type 1 diabetes?
Answer: 90-250 mg/dL
A pre-exercise blood glucose of 90-250 mg/dL is generally considered safe to begin moderate aerobic exercise for most people with Type 1 diabetes.
How does prolonged sitting (sedentary behavior) affect blood glucose control, even in people who meet weekly exercise guidelines?
Answer: Prolonged sitting independently worsens insulin resistance and glucose levels
Research shows prolonged uninterrupted sitting independently raises post-meal glucose and insulin resistance, even in people who exercise regularly — breaking sitting time every 30 minutes helps.
What precaution should a person with autonomic neuropathy take during exercise?
Answer: Monitor heart rate carefully since they may not feel angina or have an abnormal heart rate response
Autonomic neuropathy can blunt pain sensation (silent ischemia), impair heart rate response, and cause orthostatic hypotension, requiring careful cardiac monitoring during exercise.
Which benefit of exercise is MOST directly related to improving Type 2 diabetes management?
Answer: Enhanced skeletal muscle glucose uptake through GLUT4 translocation
Exercise causes GLUT4 glucose transporters to move to the muscle cell surface, enabling insulin-independent glucose uptake and directly lowering blood glucose during and after activity.