97 Diabetic-Lifestyle Burning Calories suggests different ways to include exercise in the diabetic's daily regime. Gardening is a great exercise and a wonderful way to relax and relieve stress, but it's also fraught with possibilities for back problems. To maintain blood sugar levels within a satisfactory range, you will need to test your blood before and after the gardening period. If you're going to be working for an extended period, you may also need to test at some half-way point. To determine if you need extra food or decrease your insulin before you start to garden, you'll need to take into consideration the timing of your medication, when you ate your last meal, how long you will be gardening, and the results of your blood testing.
Gardening is considered a moderate exercise.
Discuss your specific needs with your dietitian or diabetes educator before you pick up a rake or begin any exercise program. A good warm-up is to stand with your legs firmly planted shoulder width apart. Extend your arms straight up, reaching for the sky. For another good stretching exercise, sit in a chair and bend forward, reaching your hands towards the floor and stretching the back. Then flex the back downward, stretching your head and neck up and back.