Get Pumped: For Better Blood Sugar Control in Diabetes, It's Weights First

In people with type 1 diabetes, weight training before cardio exercise was linked with less severe drops in blood sugar.

MONDAY, Mar. 12, 2012 — It’s a question many workout devotees struggle with: weights before cardio, or vice versa? Now a new report says that for those with type 1 diabetes, it may be better to pump iron before getting on the elliptical or jogging around the block.

The study, published in the journal Diabetes Care, followed 12 active, young (average age 32) people with type 1 diabetes who were already running and doing strength training at least three times a week. In the first of two exercise sessions, the participants ran on a treadmill for 45 minutes, then lifted weights for 45 minutes. For the second session, the order was reversed (weights first, then running). Blood sugar levels were monitored before, during, and after each session.

The researchers found that when cardio was done first, glucose levels tended to drop and remain at low levels throughout the workout. By comparison, doing resistance exercise first was linked to less severe decreases in blood sugar, even hours after working out.

The study was small, and other factors that could have affected blood sugar were not considered. But according to Reuters Health, the findings agree with previous reports showing that aerobic workouts produce a quicker drop in blood sugar than strength training.

Balancing the health benefits of exercise with the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) can be tricky. During exercise, the body draws on blood glucose for energy — which can lead to those dangerous lows. Signs of hypoglycemia include dizziness, sweating, grumpiness, weakness, or hunger.

If you have type 1 diabetes and workout regularly, what else can you do to prevent low blood sugar besides switching around your exercise routine? The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse recommends checking blood sugar first before exercising and having a snack if the level is below 100 milligrams per deciliter, as well as testing blood sugar at regular intervals both during an extended workout and after the session is completed. Wearing a medical identification bracelet and carrying food or glucose tablets during your workout are also smart ideas.