Having diabetes doesn’t mean you have to coop yourself up in the house all day while taking handfuls of blood sugar tablets. You can live your life to the fullest, even with diabetes. For instance, as far as exercise is concerned, you can do quite a bit, from gentle exercises like Tai Chi that are good for joints and circulation to running full marathons. However, the latter may seem a little daunting for someone with diabetes. How do you do it safely? We’ll discuss how you can run a marathon with diabetes here.
Choose the Right Footwear
The first thing you need to do when you have diabetes is to decide on the right footwear. Your footwear needs to be comfortable and loose around your ankles. Otherwise, it can cut off circulation and cause pain. Poor circulation can lead to a condition called diabetic neuropathy, which is nerve damage that causes shooting pain, tingling, and numbness in your extremities. Ill-fitting shoes can cause diabetic neuropathy or exacerbate it if you already have it.
There are more tips for selecting the right running shoes. Since you will be on your feet over long distances, wear insoles. These will help take the pressure off your feet. Get diabetic shoes and socks, and finally, take your shoes for a short test run if you can.
Check Your Blood Sugar
You need to check your blood sugar when you’re running. This can be a bit difficult. You might imagine yourself juggling a lancelet and a meter, trying to poke your finger at full speed. Since that might be a bit difficult, we recommend a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) patch that you can place on your arm. That way, you can check your blood sugar on an app while running.
If you don’t have a CGM patch, stop and check your glucose level every 30 minutes to ensure you understand various patterns and can make adjustments, including stopping. Yes, sometimes you have to stop. Learning your limits is important when you’re trying to run a marathon with diabetes.
Know When to Stop
Marathons are fun, but that can quickly change if you get sick. It’s good to push yourself within reason, but it’s equally important to learn when to take a break or even stop entirely. Your health matters, and you can’t compromise it over your pride. As long as you follow these tips, you’ll be running a marathon in no time!