Diabetes Edutool: Tutorial 3

The effect of exercise on blood glucose

When we exercise, the body needs glucose for energy

This glucose is initially taken from the bloodstream, causing the blood glucose to

drop

When the blood glucose level starts to fall, the liver releases more glucose

This helps to prevent low blood glucose during exercise

Let’s explain this by using Edutool

Normal blood glucose is close to

5 mmol/L

We start off with a blood glucose level within the normal range

When we exercise, is taken from the blood for energy

Notice the Exercise attempted arrow

To prevent low blood glucose during exercise, the liver releases

Notice the Energy from liver arrow

The liver has a maximal output. After reaching this level, prevention of a further fall

in blood glucose is no longer possible

Notice the Energy from liver reaching its limit

As the liver is unable to release more , hypoglycaemia occurs

The blood glucose becomes very low

To raise the blood glucose, must be consumed

4 eaten

By eating or drinking four the blood glucose is restored to within a normal range

Lessons:

- Glucose is used for energy while exercising

- This glucose is taken from the blood

- This causes the blood glucose level to decrease

- The liver helps to prevent low blood glucose levels by releasing glucose

Lessons (continued):

- There is a limit to how much glucose the liver can release

- Beyond this limit blood glucose will start to fall

- To prevent low blood glucose during exercise, a few should be eaten before or during exercise

-- End of Tutorial 3 --