Exercise and beta cell function - Am I doing it wrong?

[sh_1980]

Hello forum,

Im a newly diagnosed Type 2. I am prescribed Metformin 500mg daily.

Let me explain my situation with an example

Suppose I eat four slices of white bread, my blood sugar peaks after 1 hour, which reaches around 210. So as advised I reduce my carb intake to avoid sugar spikes I have to limit it to 2 slices. In this case it reaches around 150 maximum at peak.

However I have observed that if I do some exercise after 40 mins of my meal (2 slices of bread)and check my BS at peak, it reaches only upto 85

Then I tried 4 slices of bread, exercise after 40 mins and my BS peak is around 90. Which is only a slight increase. (Even though I explain only using this example I have tested with many types of meals and the pattern is same)

My BMI is fine so I dont want to diet, I prefer eating 4 slices and exercise instead of eating only 2 slices and feeling hungry 1 hour later, also this way I get 60 mins (20min x 3 meals) of exercise per day without allocating a dedicated time.

Now my question is, usually If you wanna gain something you have to scarify something else... What do I scarify here?

I know that, with the meal I have now, If I dont exercise It reaches 210... So In order to keep it 90 does my pancreas work hard to produce more insulin while am doing exercise? Will my remaining beta cells die soon if I continue this approach?

Your thoughts are highly appreciated.

 

[phoenix]

Hello forum,



I know that, with the meal I have now, If I dont exercise It reaches 210... So In order to keep it 90 does my pancreas work hard to produce more insulin while am doing exercise? Will my remaining beta cells die soon if I continue this approach?

Your thoughts are highly appreciated.

You don't produce more insulin during aerobic exercise, you need less. it's a bit different if you are sprinting or engaging in competition when other factors come into play.
Glucose has to get into cells to be utilised. Muscle and skeletal cells have a transporter that enables : GLUT 4. There are 2 methods to activate the GLUT 4 transporter , one utilises insulin, the other works with the contraction of muscles. So, during exercise glucose can get into cells through muscle contraction as well as with insulin. If you make some insulin yourself then the effects are actually additive ie both insulin and exercise work together to get insulin into the cell. Therefore you use less insulin
( those of us who are type 1 have to reduce insulin dramatically for long term aerobic exercise. Walking or running long distances may require very tiny amounts of insulin This can be a problem with injections hence many of us need to take glucose to keep blood glucose from dropping too low)
So no, your pancreas is working less hard during exercise .
Here's a good general article http://www.diabetesforecast.org/2010/jul/the-science-of-exercise.html

So exercise is good; but you also need a diet that has lots of nutrients and has the right amount of calories for your needs. Exercise doesn't use up as many calories as most of us would like it to do. Some young athletes in heavy training can get away with eating vast quantities of junk food Personally, I think that the rest of us can't because our calorie needs are fewer, it's then better to make sure those calories aren't empty ones (ie not full of highly refined carbs and fat, processed in factories)

 

[sh_1980]

Thank you phoenix, your reply & the url explains it really well.

I will follow your advise regarding the diet and nutrition too.

Cheers.!