Fluctuations in the body’s blood sugar levels may result in a number of health issues, including diabetes, which is then treated with a regimen of medications, dietary modifications, and physical activity.
But just like diabetics cannot eat anything and everything (read: foods with a high glycemic index), can they sprint or run at maximum speed for brief intervals — essentially, do high-intensity exercises? Experts sound caution “for most diabetics”. Here’s why.
While sprinting is a high-intensity exercise that is useful for enhancing cardiovascular health, increasing muscle strength, and calorie burning, “it comes with some concerns for those who have diabetes”.
“That is because doing heavy-duty exercises, especially by diabetics who are not used to them, can precipitate heart attacks,” warned Dr Subhendu Mohanty, interventional cardiologist, Sharda Hospital, Noida.
For diabetics, one of the “biggest dangers” of sprinting is the possibility of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), said Dr Anurag Saxena, HOD- internal medicine, Primus Super Speciality Hospital, New Delhi.
Your body needs a lot of energy to sprint, and the blood’s supply of glucose provides that energy. A diabetic who is running may have symptoms like dizziness, disorientation, weakness, or even loss of consciousness if their blood sugar level is already low or drops while they are sprinting.