If you have retinopathy, you must discuss exercise with your doctor or ophthalmologist. The eye is sensitive to changes in blood pressure, strenuous activity, and activities that jar the head. Exercises that you must not do include:

• weight lifting
• jogging
• high-impact aerobics
• racquet sports
• competitive sports
• trumpet playing
• boxing

• swimming without diving
• walking
• low-impact aerobics
• stationary cycling
• treadmill walking

Peripheral neuropathy can result in the loss of feeling of pain and touch, as well as the loss of balance. This can be a common complication of diabetes. It is important to know if your feet have good sensation in them. If you are not sure if they do, be sure to have your feet checked at your next visit to your doctor or nurse educator.

If you know that your feet are lacking the sensation they used to have, it is important to know how to take care of your feet when exercising. Remember to always wear appropriate footwear and socks to prevent blisters and to check your feet for injuries. There are certain activities to avoid such as weight bearing activities e.g. jogging and walking. You may not feel any injury to your feet. Activities you could do are cycling, arm chair exercises, and swimming.

If you have nephropathy, exercise that raises the blood pressure for long periods of time should be avoided. Discuss this with your doctor.

If you have end-stage renal disease, you may not feel up to exercising a great deal. If you find that you are tired a lot of the time, a short walk may be recommended. Do not walk further than you can easily manage; remember that you have to be able to get back home! Work your way up slowly to increase your tolerance. Some people might find swimming or cycling beneficial.

If you have had a heart attack or have uncontrolled high blood pressure, it is best that you seek medical advice before beginning an exercise program.

If you have pain in your legs when walking, start walking only at a slow pace. The circulation may be improved with a walking program, which may help with this problem. Discontinue the exercise if the pain becomes intensely uncomfortable. Do not walk if you experience pain at night or during rest.

If you have had diabetes treated with insulin for a number of years and if you notice that you are becoming less sensitive to the signs of a low blood glucose level, you may have "Hypoglycemia Unawareness". This condition means that someone is not aware when their blood glucose level is low and they cannot correct it by themselves.
With hypoglycemia unawareness, a person loses the ability to notice the typical first feelings of low blood glucose levels (i.e. sweating, trembling). This will put them at risk for seizures and coma. This is a cause for concern if one is trying to exercise.
Blood glucose levels must be checked frequently before, during, and after exercise. It is important to have extra food before starting the exercise so that blood glucose levels are high enough to avoid hypoglycemia. It is also a good idea to avoid exercising when the injected insulin is working its hardest in the body.

For your safety, a responsible person at home should be familiar with the use of a Glucagon kit. More information about hypoglycemia.