A patient with type 2 diabetes plans to exercise after a meal. What safety consideration should the nurse address?

• A. Check blood glucose before and after exercise and provide a snack if needed; adjust insulin or hypoglycemic agent per protocol.
• B. Exercise without monitoring glucose.
• C. Avoid exercise after meals.
• D. Double insulin dose before exercise.

Answer: (A)

When a person with type 2 diabetes plans to exercise after a meal, the main safety issue is the risk of exercise-induced hypoglycemia. Muscles use more glucose during activity, and if the person is on insulin or a sulfonylurea, their meds can lower blood glucose further. Checking blood glucose before starting ensures it’s safe to begin, and checking again after helps detect any drop that could lead to hypoglycemia. If glucose is low or trending down, offering a snack provides a buffer during activity, and adjusting insulin or the hypoglycemic agent per protocol prevents an unnecessary or dangerous dose reduction or addition. This approach protects the patient from hypoglycemia during and after exercise, while allowing safe, postprandial activity. Exercising without glucose monitoring is unsafe, and timing or dosing insulin by doubling it before exercise is incorrect and risky; exercise after meals is not inherently unsafe, but must be managed with monitoring, snack planning, and medication adjustments as needed.