Food and Drinks
Drinking lots of water while exercising is very important. Your exercise performance will improve, and you’ll have more energy overall when you are well hydrated. Dehydration can result in increased tiredness, heat exhaustion or other problems such as cramping. You will lose more salt through your sweat if you have CF, so it is more likely you will become dehydrated if you don’t drink when exercising. Extra salt and fluid are required before, during or after exercise. This is very important during summer when you may sweat even more. You should discuss with your health care team.
Whether you take part in recreational sport or exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle, what you eat and drink is important. Most people with CF have higher energy needs (you need more energy to do day to day tasks compared to someone without CF). Regular exercise can increase your energy needs even further. So, it is important to increase the amount you eat to maintain a healthy weight. It is good if you can work together with your dietitian and physiotherapist to find out what would work best for you depending on what exercise you are doing and your overall health.
If you have CF related diabetes you should also talk to your CF team before starting a new exercise routine or activity. It may be important for you to monitor your blood sugar levels before, during or after your exercise. When you are exercising it is a good idea to have your blood glucose monitor nearby, and to have snacks that are high in carbohydrate nearby.
More information about diet considerations and refuelling before and after exercise is available in “Exercise and Cystic Fibrosis: A Guide for people living with CF” https://www.cfwa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/1.-Exercise-CF-Guide-for-people-with-CF.pdf.