A patient with moderately well-controlled type I diabetes starts an exercise program. Regular exercise will generally:

A patient with moderately well-controlled type I diabetes starts an exercise program. Regular exercise will generally:

• A. Lower blood glucose levels and decrease amount of insulin required
• B. Lower blood glucose levels and increase amount of insulin required
• C. Raise blood glucose levels and decrease amount of insulin required
• D. Raise blood glucose levels and increase amount of insulin required

Answer: (A)

Regular exercise increases glucose uptake by contracting skeletal muscle and improves insulin sensitivity, so it tends to lower blood glucose levels and reduce the amount of insulin required. During activity, muscles pull in more glucose through GLUT4 transporters, and with consistent training tissues become more responsive to insulin, meaning the same insulin dose can achieve the target glucose more effectively. In people with type I diabetes, this improved insulin sensitivity and muscle glucose use generally means lower glucose levels and a reduced need for exogenous insulin, though it’s important to monitor for potential hypoglycemia during or after exercise and adjust insulin or carbohydrate intake accordingly. The other patterns described—blood glucose rising with exercise or needing more insulin—don’t align with the typical physiology of exercise in type I diabetes.

Regular exercise increases glucose uptake by contracting skeletal muscle and improves insulin sensitivity, so it tends to lower blood glucose levels and reduce the amount of insulin required. During activity, muscles pull in more glucose through GLUT4 transporters, and with consistent training tissues become more responsive to insulin, meaning the same insulin dose can achieve the target glucose more effectively. In people with type I diabetes, this improved insulin sensitivity and muscle glucose use generally means lower glucose levels and a reduced need for exogenous insulin, though it’s important to monitor for potential hypoglycemia during or after exercise and adjust insulin or carbohydrate intake accordingly. The other patterns described—blood glucose rising with exercise or needing more insulin—don’t align with the typical physiology of exercise in type I diabetes.