1. Diabetes Edutool: Tutorial 3 The effect of exercise on blood glucose

2. When we exercise, the body needs glucose for energy This glucose is initially taken from the bloodstream, causing the blood glucose to drop

3. When the blood glucose level starts to fall, the liver releases more glucose This helps to prevent low blood glucose during exercise

4. 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

5. When we exercise, is taken from the blood for energy
Notice the Exercise attempted arrow

6. To prevent low blood glucose during exercise, the liver releases
Notice the Energy from liver arrow

7. The liver has a maximal output
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

8. As the liver is unable to release more , hypoglycaemia occurs
The blood glucose becomes very low

9. To raise the blood glucose, must be consumed

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

11. 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

12. 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 --