Exercise with Control-IQ: A Practical Guide for Type 1 Diabetes Management

Physical activity and exercise are important parts of living well with type 1 diabetes, but they can make blood glucose unpredictable. Exercise changes how your body uses insulin and can cause glucose levels to drop unexpectedly—sometimes hours after you've finished moving.

Automated insulin delivery systems like Control-IQ are designed to help manage these changes. When used correctly with appropriate adjustments, research shows these systems produce better glucose outcomes during and after exercise compared to manual insulin pump therapy or insulin pen injections.

Control-IQ has two useful features for managing physical activity: the Exercise Activity mode and the ability to activate a Personal Profile with higher or lower insulin settings. These tools can be used together to fine-tune how much insulin your body receives during different types of activity.

The system allows for flexibility across different exercise scenarios. Healthcare providers and patients can work through step-by-step decision trees to determine the best settings for various activities, whether you're doing light activity, moderate exercise, or intense sports.

Even with an automated system handling insulin delivery, two things remain in your hands: adjusting your insulin doses beforehand and planning your carbohydrate intake. Success during exercise depends on getting both of these right.

New practical guidance from diabetes experts provides flowcharts and step-by-step instructions designed for children, adolescents, and adults using Control-IQ. The guidance covers four different exercise scenarios and includes information about when you might need to temporarily suspend your insulin pump if needed.

Because every person with type 1 diabetes responds to exercise differently, the best approach is to work with your diabetes care team to develop a personalized plan. They can help you understand which Personal Profile settings and Exercise Activity adjustments make sense for your typical activities and fitness goals.

The new expert guidance is designed to help healthcare professionals educate Control-IQ users on exercise management. If you use Control-IQ and want to feel more confident during physical activity, ask your doctor or diabetes educator to walk you through the practical flowcharts and scenarios that fit your life.

Source: Diabetes, obesity & metabolism. Evidence type: PubMed indexed literature. Type1Cure is an information and intelligence hub, not a medical advice service. This article summarizes published research and does not provide diagnosis, treatment, or personal medical guidance. Always talk to your own care team before changing anything about your Type 1 diabetes management.