Swimming and diabetes: What you need to know

Here’s what to keep in mind

Swimming provides a great full-body workout for People of all ages and fitness levels. Staying active in the pool is easy on the joints, boosts cardiovascular health, and helps build muscle strength. Among its many benefits, swimming can be an ideal option for People who have diabetes too!

Read on to learn more about the benefits that swimming can bring, what precautions to take at the pool, and how to get involved.

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Swimming benefits for diabetes

Some health benefits of swimming for those who have diabetes include:

  • Better blood sugar control: Like many forms of cardio, swimming can help you maintain better control over blood sugar levels.
  • A chance to de-stress: We know that living with diabetes can be stressful. As with any type of exercise, feel-good hormones (endorphins) are released when you swim, which can help to lift mood.
  • Taking care of your heart: Heart disease and diabetes can go hand in hand. Thanks to swimming being a good form of aerobic exercise, getting into the pool can help to strengthen the heart muscle, improve blood flow, and lower blood pressure.

Things to consider

Having diabetes shouldn’t get in the way of you staying active or getting in the pool, but there are a few things to consider:

  • Testing your blood sugar levels: Keeping a record of your blood sugar level before and after a swim indicates how swimming may affect your blood sugar levels. Keep in mind that some days you might do the same swim, yet your blood sugar levels may be different to what you expect. This could be due to how fast you're swimming and how much your heart rate is increasing.
  • Fuelling your swim: When it comes to managing diabetes, some People may need to eat before and during their swim to help manage blood sugar levels. If you’re at risk of hypos, inform a lifeguard that you’re diabetic.
  • If swimming is new to you: Speak to a professional if swimming is a new type of exercise. This is especially important if you treat diabetes with insulin, as they should advise the best way to manage insulin around exercise.

Open water swimming with diabetes

If you’re wanting to get out of the pool and into the sea, you’ll need to consider the temperature of the water. Open water swimming is a chilly experience, and very cold water can have a big impact on blood sugar. Hypos may also be harder to treat if you’re out in open water.

Swim England advises wearing appropriate footwear before getting in the water too, this will protect your feet from sharp objects and cold temperatures. Cold water, especially open water, can increase the likelihood of hypos.

Can you swim with an insulin pump?

The short answer – yes!

This all depends on the type of pump you use. Some pumps are waterproof and can be worn while you’re having a swim, whereas others will need to be disconnected before you get in the pool.

Each model will be different, so it’s best to get advice from your GP or the manufacturer of the devices.

 

How to get started

If you’re new to our pools or haven’t swum in a while, our Just Swim sessions could be a great place to start. They let you do exactly what the name suggests – just swim!

These are an ideal option for swimming at your own pace, enjoying your time in the water, or even socialising with other swimmers.

Lane swimming is another one of our swimming sessions, perfect for those who want to work on their fitness or improve their stamina in the water.

When you get to the pool, expect it to be divided into individual lanes – slow, medium, and fast. If you’re unsure of your speed in the water, start in the slow lane, you can always move up if you want to pick up the pace!

Ready to give it a go? Take a look at the swimming timetables and get started at your nearest pool below.


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Sources: Diabetes and swimming (Swim England) | Swimming when you have diabetes (Diabetes UK) | Diabetes and heart disease (Diabetes UK) | Does Exercise Lower Blood Sugar Levels (Diabetes UK) |

 

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