Who May Benefit From Exercise Physiology for Diabetes?

Exercise Physiology may be useful if you are:

• Living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and wanting a structured exercise plan.
• Newly diagnosed and uncertain about exercising safely.
• Returning to physical activity after a long break.
• Managing diabetes alongside reduced fitness, fatigue or musculoskeletal pain.
• Concerned about how exercise affects your blood glucose.
• Living with other health conditions that influence exercise selection or intensity.
• Wanting guidance with strength, cardiovascular fitness or long-term exercise habits.

You do not need to be fit before attending an Exercise Physiology appointment. The purpose of an assessment is to establish an appropriate starting point.

What Is Exercise and Diabetes Management?

Exercise and diabetes management means using planned physical activity as part of your overall diabetes care.

It can involve walking, cycling, swimming, strength training, balance exercises and regular movement throughout the day. The aim is to improve physical capacity while supporting sustainable health habits.

Exercise does not replace medication, nutrition management or regular medical reviews. Instead, it works alongside these aspects of diabetes care.

Your program should consider your diabetes type, medications, blood glucose responses, current activity level, goals and any concerns affecting your feet, eyes, nerves, heart or circulation.

Why Is Exercise Important for Diabetes?

Physical activity helps working muscles use glucose for energy. Regular exercise can also improve insulin sensitivity, which describes how effectively the body responds to insulin.

For people with type 2 diabetes, structured exercise may improve longer-term blood glucose management, including HbA1c. People with type 1 diabetes can also gain important cardiovascular, strength and functional benefits, although blood glucose responses require individual planning.

Benefits depend on consistency, exercise selection and individual health factors. A sustainable program usually matters more than an occasional strenuous workout.

How Much Exercise Should Adults Aim For?

Australia’s 2026 24-hour movement guidelines for adults encourage physical activity across the week.

For adults aged 18 to 64, the general recommendations include:

• Moderate-to-vigorous activity: 30 minutes or more on most days.
• Muscle strengthening: Activities on at least two days each week.
• Mobility, balance and coordination: Functional activities on at least three days each week.
• Light physical activity: Several hours of movement throughout the day.
• Less prolonged sitting: Break up sedentary time as often as practical.

Some activities contribute to more than one recommendation. For example, walking up stairs can develop cardiovascular fitness and functional strength.

Older adults and people living with chronic conditions should also consider the relevant Australian Government recommendations for their circumstances.

What Types of Exercise Are Useful for Diabetes?

Most people benefit from a combination of aerobic activity, resistance exercise and regular daily movement. Your exercise choices should reflect your interests, abilities and health needs.

Is Aerobic Exercise or Strength Training Better?

Both provide benefits. Aerobic exercise helps develop cardiovascular fitness, while resistance training improves muscular strength and capacity. Combining them often provides broader health benefits than relying on only one type.

Your exercise program may also include flexibility and balance activities when appropriate.

The best exercise is one that suits your circumstances and can be continued over time.

How Do You Start Exercising Safely With Diabetes?

Start with activities you can manage comfortably and progress as your fitness and confidence improve.

A structured approach can help you avoid doing too much too soon.

1. Review Your Starting Point

   Consider your current activity, health conditions, medication, blood glucose management and exercise goals.

2. Choose Manageable Activities

   Short walks, gentle cycling or simple strength exercises may provide an appropriate beginning, depending on your health status.

3. Plan Around Blood Glucose

   Follow your diabetes team’s guidance about glucose monitoring, meals, medication and exercise. This is particularly important when using insulin or medications that may cause hypoglycaemia.

4. Build Gradually

   Increase duration, intensity or exercise difficulty progressively rather than changing everything at once.

5. Review Your Response

   Monitor symptoms, recovery, confidence and activity tolerance. Adjust your program when needed.

If you have had a long period of inactivity or have diabetes-related complications, an individual assessment can help determine an appropriate exercise starting point.

How Can an Accredited Exercise Physiologist Help With Diabetes?

An Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP) assesses your physical capacity, health history and exercise needs before prescribing and progressing activity around your diabetes, medications, symptoms and goals.

Exercise Physiology focuses on clinically prescribed exercise, rather than providing a general fitness program.

What Happens During an Exercise Physiology Assessment?

Your AEP may discuss your diabetes history, current exercise, medications, other health conditions and personal goals. They may also assess relevant aspects of your strength, balance, cardiovascular fitness or movement capacity.

Using this information, they can help develop an exercise plan with appropriate starting loads, activity choices and progression.

What Might Your Program Include?

• Individualised aerobic exercise and strength training.
• Home-based or supervised exercise options.
• Education about exercise intensity, pacing and progression.
• Strategies to reduce prolonged sitting.
• Balance, mobility and functional strengthening.
• Adjustments for joint pain, fatigue or reduced fitness.
• Progress reviews and changes to exercise prescription.

Your AEP may communicate with your GP, diabetes care team or other practitioners when appropriate.

At PhysioWorks, Madison Stanley, Accredited Exercise Physiologist, provides an example of the clinical exercise support available through our Exercise Physiology service.

If a new injury, acute pain or significant movement limitation is affecting your ability to exercise, physiotherapy may also be appropriate.

When Should Exercise Be Modified?

Most people with diabetes can benefit from physical activity. However, certain medical conditions, symptoms or treatments may require modifications.

Blood Glucose and Medication

Exercise can lower or occasionally raise blood glucose, depending on the activity, timing and individual response. People using insulin or sulfonylurea medicines may be at greater risk of exercise-related hypoglycaemia.

Follow your treating team’s advice about checking glucose, carrying fast-acting carbohydrate when indicated, and adjusting activity around medication or meals. Do not independently change prescribed medication doses without appropriate guidance.

Peripheral Neuropathy and Foot Problems

Reduced foot sensation, pressure injuries or poor wound healing may affect exercise selection. Appropriate footwear, foot checks and lower-impact options may be useful.

Active foot ulcers or concerning wounds require medical or podiatry guidance before selecting weight-bearing activities.

Eye Disease

Some forms of advanced diabetic retinopathy may require restrictions on heavy resistance exercise, straining or high-impact activity. Follow your eye specialist’s advice.

Heart Disease and Other Health Conditions

Cardiovascular disease, significant breathlessness, dizziness or other medical conditions may influence appropriate exercise intensity and supervision.

Your program should reflect the advice of your treating medical team.

Is Exercise Different for Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes?

Exercise With Type 1 Diabetes

People with type 1 diabetes can enjoy a broad range of physical activities. However, exercise can influence blood glucose during activity and for hours afterwards.

Insulin, meals, activity intensity and glucose monitoring may need to be planned carefully with your diabetes team.

Exercise supports general health and physical fitness but does not replace insulin treatment.

Exercise With Type 2 Diabetes

Regular aerobic and resistance exercise may improve insulin sensitivity, glucose management and cardiovascular fitness.

Some people with type 2 diabetes also need medication-related precautions, particularly when taking medicines that increase the risk of low blood glucose.

The right exercise program should consider your health conditions, current fitness and preferences rather than relying on a single routine for everyone.

Can Exercise Help Prevent Type 2 Diabetes?

Regular physical activity can help reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, particularly in people with prediabetes or other metabolic risk factors.

Exercise can support insulin sensitivity, body composition and cardiovascular health. It works best as part of broader preventive care that may include nutrition, sleep, weight management and medical monitoring.

Type 1 diabetes has a different underlying disease process and cannot currently be prevented through lifestyle exercise alone.

Where Can You See an Exercise Physiologist?

PhysioWorks offers Exercise Physiology appointments at three Brisbane clinics. Choose the location most convenient for your assessment and ongoing exercise program.

For online appointment options, use the Exercise Physiology booking section below.

Can Medicare or NDIS Help Cover Exercise Physiology?

Medicare Chronic Condition Management

Eligible patients may be able to access Medicare rebates for Exercise Physiology under a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan (GPCCMP).

The referral and eligibility requirements depend on Medicare rules and your individual circumstances. Your GP can advise whether this pathway is appropriate.

Our Medicare allied health information provides further guidance.

Type 2 Diabetes Group Allied Health Services

Eligible people with type 2 diabetes may also access a Medicare-supported group allied health pathway following the required assessment and GP referral.

Under current Medicare arrangements, this may include an assessment of suitability and up to eight eligible group allied health sessions per calendar year, subject to the relevant conditions.

This describes Medicare eligibility, not confirmation that PhysioWorks currently offers a diabetes-specific Medicare group program.

NDIS Exercise Physiology

Exercise Physiology may be relevant for some NDIS participants when supports relate to their disability, plan goals and applicable funding arrangements.

Diabetes alone does not establish NDIS eligibility. See our NDIS physiotherapy and exercise physiology information for further details.

Check referral requirements, eligibility, rebates and any out-of-pocket costs before booking.

When Should You Seek Professional Advice?

Consider professional advice if you:

• Are unsure how to start exercising with diabetes.
• Experience unexpected or repeated changes in blood glucose during activity.
• Have peripheral neuropathy, foot problems or other diabetes-related complications.
• Are returning to activity after a prolonged period of inactivity.
• Have cardiovascular symptoms or other medical concerns.
• Need help building a realistic long-term exercise routine.

An Exercise Physiologist can assist with exercise assessment and prescription. Your GP and diabetes care team remain important for diagnosis, medical management and medication decisions.

Helpful Links

These resources provide additional information about diabetes, physical activity and relevant services.

• Diabetes — a broader overview of diabetes and related health considerations.
• Exercise Physiology Brisbane — learn how clinically prescribed exercise works.
• Madison Stanley — Accredited Exercise Physiologist — practitioner information.
• Medicare allied health information — referral and funding considerations.
• NDIS services — information about relevant support pathways.
• Australian Government 24-hour movement guidelines — current adult activity recommendations.
• Diabetes Australia — Exercise — further information on physical activity and diabetes.

Exercise and Diabetes FAQs

What Should You Do Next?

If you want to become more active while managing diabetes, begin with an achievable goal and consider whether personalised exercise advice would be useful.

An Exercise Physiology assessment can help identify your current capacity, suitable activities and an appropriate progression plan.

PhysioWorks offers Exercise Physiology appointments at Ashgrove, Clayfield and Sandgate. Choose your preferred clinic below to explore appointment options.

References

1. Colberg SR, Sigal RJ, Yardley JE, et al. Physical Activity/Exercise and Diabetes: A Position Statement of the American Diabetes Association. Diabetes Care. 2016;39(11):2065–2079.

2. Umpierre D, Ribeiro PAB, Kramer CK, et al. Physical activity advice only or structured exercise training and association with HbA1c levels in type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA. 2011;305(17):1790–1799.

3. Kanaley JA, Colberg SR, Corcoran MH, et al. Exercise/Physical Activity in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes: A Consensus Statement from the American College of Sports Medicine. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 2022;54(2):353–368.

4. Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. 24-hour Movement Guidelines: Recommendations for Adults Aged 18–64 Years. Updated June 2026.

5. Services Australia. Services Available Under a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan.

6. Services Australia. Medicare Billing Rules for Chronic Condition Allied Health and Group Services for Type 2 Diabetes.