Cautions and When to Stop
Reviewed by CDE Mehandi Sharma · Updated
Most of the time the answer is to exercise. These are the situations where it is not.
The most important one is high blood sugar with ketones. As your insulin production falls, ketones become a real possibility. If your glucose is above about 250 mg/dL and ketones are present, exercise makes it worse rather than better, because working muscles without enough insulin drive ketone production higher. Treat the high first.
Stop and seek help for chest pain or pressure, unusual breathlessness, dizziness or feeling faint, or pain in the calves that comes on with walking and eases with rest.
Feet need attention that is easy to skip. Never walk or exercise barefoot, including on temple floors, hot terraces and beaches. Wear closed footwear that fits properly, break new footwear in gradually, and check your feet after every session for blisters, cuts and red areas — nerve damage means an injury can go unfelt.
If you have not been active in a long time, have known heart disease, or have advanced eye or kidney complications, get medical advice before starting rather than after.