There are tons of resources available online to help people learn how to manage diabetes and athletic endeavors. It takes planning and preparation.
If you are interested, there is a good book by Sheri Colberg, who has a PhD and is diabetic herself. It's actually got lots of good information even if you don't consider yourself to be an athlete: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1492572845/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_YWJJDAHXXSK548339D0B
Diabetes and exercise can vary widely by person. I highly recommend this book, even if you don't consider yourself an athlete. Our bodies are so complex!
Sheri R. Colberg The Athlete’s Guide to Diabetes https://www.amazon.com/dp/1492572845/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_VSTNKTNN9CWVJ55JXPHM
My biggest piece of advice is to ensure you have no insulin on board before you exercise - this means only basal insulin, no recent boluses. That helps me keep pretty steady!
A phenomenal book that I highly recommend that addresses this is The Athlete's Guide to Diabetes by Sheri R. Colberg, PhD. She does a phenomenal job of explaining the entire process on how exercise works in Diabetes as well as how to correct for a huge number of specific activities. Really helps me. Good luck!
If you are remotely interested in exercise, please read this one. The author is a type 1 with decades of experience with diabetes and exercise!
The Athlete’s Guide to Diabetes - Sheri Colberg https://www.amazon.com/dp/1492572845/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_HW4Q87RRFNPYKF9TZ2ZM
I just told someone else to get this book - it's really helpful, even if you don't consider yourself to be an athlete:
The Athlete’s Guide to Diabetes: Sheri R. Colberg: 9781492572848: Amazon.com: Books
My biggest tip is to exercise with as little insulin on board as possible - I usually do it first thing in the morning since I haven't bolused in several hours. If I can't help having taken some insulin and then going out on a walk, I just make sure that I eat some fast-acting sugar before I go. And you're probably right that it will get better as you walk more and more! If you don't have a CGM, get one if you can - it will really help you spot trends.
Like many things, YDMV (your diabetes may vary)! It would be so much easier if the same things worked for all of us. It also depends on your TYPE of workout - anaerobic vs aerobic makes a bit difference. There are some good books out there about diabetes and exercise - look up Sheri Colberg - she's diabetic herself! (https://www.amazon.com/dp/1492572845/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_j6k5Fb0T4Z9H7)
Updated version of Dr. Colberg's book - latest edition is "The Athlete's Guide to Diabetes" - it is really good too: https://www.amazon.com/Athletes-Guide-Diabetes-Sheri-Colberg/dp/1492572845/ref=tmm\_pap\_swatch\_0?\_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
That's a lot of good information online about diabetes and exercise. It's totally doable. I also recommend this book: The Athlete’s Guide to Diabetes https://www.amazon.com/dp/1492572845/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_R1QZ9PCDHPVWGZM08KP4
This book may be helpful - it has a lot of background info but also sport-specific info. You aren't alone!
Your need to minimize any boluses for a couple of hours ahead of time.
Also, read this book: The Athlete’s Guide to Diabetes https://www.amazon.com/dp/1492572845/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_YSD4128DTF8QBYC8DZ9F
I don't have a lot of data, since I just got diagnosed with prediabetes about a month ago, and have only been tracking my blood sugar on and off for a few weeks.
But I noticed feeling lightheaded during my runs, and then would come home and test my blood sugar 5-15 minutes after the run. In general, it's been high, although it varies. The first time I measured it, it was 142 mg/dl (~7.9 mmol/L)after a 6.8 mile run that took maybe 1 hour and 15 minutes. Another day, after a 1 hour run, it was 108 mg/dl (totally fine), and then yesterday, after a short but moderately intense 5k/3 mile run, it was 170 (9.4 mmol/L). Which is crazy high, one of the highest blood sugar measurement I've gotten. In fairness, although I was out of breath a little on yesterday's run I didn't feel especially lightheaded. I did on the longer run, and thought it might be blood sugar, which was why I checked.
So I am trying to understand what's happening here and coming up short. I've just ordered a book via interlibrary loan that looks like it might be helpful, The Athlete's Guide to Diabetes https://www.amazon.com/Athletes-Guide-Diabetes-Sheri-Colberg/dp/1492572845/