Why Your Workouts Might Be Spiking Your Blood Sugar and How to Fix It
Why Your Workouts Might Be Spiking Your Blood Sugar and How to Fix It
If you’ve ever checked your blood sugar after a workout and thought “Wait… why did it go UP?” - you’re not alone. It feels backwards, right? Exercise is supposed to help blood sugar.
Here’s the deal: certain types of workouts can temporarily raise your numbers.
Why it happens:
When you do intense exercise (like sprints, heavy lifting, or a hard spin class), your body releases stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. Those hormones tell your liver to dump glucose into your bloodstream to give you quick energy.
It’s your body’s “fight or flight” fuel system.
The good news?
This spike is usually temporary - and over time, regular exercise still improves insulin sensitivity and overall blood sugar control.
How to keep spikes in check:
- Try a warm-up. Easing into exercise can reduce the stress response.
- Mix it up. Combine strength or HIIT days with steady-state cardio or walking days.
- Time your meals. If you eat a big carb-heavy meal right before intense exercise, that can stack on top of the adrenaline effect.
- Track your patterns. Notice which workouts cause the biggest spikes and adjust from there.
The takeaway: A spike after a workout doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong. It just means your body is getting you ready for action. The trick is learning how to work with that, not against it.
Inside Blood Sugar Club, we break down workout tips, substitutions, and strategies so you can move in a way that supports your numbers. You’ll even get workouts designed with blood sugar in mind!
