Can You Exercise Without a CGM?
Can You Exercise Without a CGM? Not everyone has a CGM, and even if you do, sometimes it fails. This episode teaches you old-school strategies that still work. Today, We’re Covering: How to check BG before, during, and after workouts...
The episode, word for word
Can You Exercise Without a CGM?
Let's rewind to the early 2000s, when you had to check your blood sugar with a meter, wait for the screen to load like dial-up internet, and hope your sweaty hands didn't smear the test strip.
If that sounds like a horror movie, welcome to life with T1D before CGMs.
And yet, we still exercised. We still ran. We still figured it out.
Hey, I'm Neil, and this is Your Best T1D Year.
And today's episode is for everyone who doesn't have a CGM, or who doesn't trust it 100% yet.
Because no, technology isn't a requirement for movement.
What you do need? A little planning, a little pattern tracking... and maybe some backup fruit snacks.
Here's what I used to do, and still recommend:
Check before you start. If you're under 90 mg/dL and dropping, pause. Fuel up first.
Set a timer for 20, 30 minutes into your workout to pause and check again.
Log what happens after. Did you spike? Crash? Stay steady?
That's it.
Two to three fingersticks during and after a workout = data.
And data = peace of mind.
Even with a CGM today, I still check manually when I feel off. Because nothing replaces how your body feels.
Only around 8, 17% of adults with T1D in specialty clinics actually use CGMs.
Why it matters: The majority of people with T1D are already exercising without CGMs, and doing it successfully.
Before Dexcoms and Freestyle Libres, we learned the old-school way:
What happened when we lifted without food
How our body reacted to different times of day
What snacks actually helped mid-workout (shoutout to orange Gatorade and peanut butter crackers)
And honestly? That built a kind of awareness that tech alone can't teach.
Because here's the truth:
You don't need tech to move, you need intention.
Whether you're taking a walk or hitting the gym, you can build body awareness over time.
You just have to pay attention, and have a plan.
So this week, I want to challenge you to:
Pick one movement
Check BG before and after
Pay attention to how you felt
And if you don't have a CGM? Share your win.
Tag me on Instagram @thebetes](https://instagram.com/thebetes) or TikTok @the.betes](https://tiktok.com/@the.betes)
Tell me what movement you tried, and what you learned.
Because people need to see it is possible without high-tech tools.
Next week we start a brand new theme, and it's a good one.
We're talking routines, rhythms, and what to do when your T1D game plan goes completely sideways.
But before we go...
Quick shoutout to our sponsor, Blue Circle Health.
They offer free, expert care for people with T1D, no copays, no insurance hoops, no catch.
You get a team of endos, coaches, and educators who get it.
[ ](https://bluecirclehealth.org)
Thanks for being here today.
You don't need perfect numbers to show up, you just need a plan.
Let's move with intention, curiosity... and maybe a backup juice box in the pocket.
See you next time.
This is the script as read on the mic, lightly tidied for reading. Education, not medical advice. Talk to your care team before you change anything about your insulin.