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Advice when exercising?

Kathryn321

Kathryn321

Active Member
Messages
25
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I was diagnosed a few months ago with type 1 - and since then I've ended up putting weight on. I used to do a lot of exercise such as swimming, running and fitness classes. But now as my glucose levels need to be above 10 to exercise I find I am eating cereal bars or jelly babies just to make them high, then when I'm running or at the gym I daren't put much effort in as I worry they'll go too low.

I came back from a run and tested - the reading was 3.00 and I had no signs of a hypo whilst running. Other times I've got back and they've been around 15.00 :(

Does anyone have any advice about exercise?
 
In most cases you can reduce your insulin to accommodate exercise, this is especially so for your bolus (quick-acting insulin) that should significantly reduce the amount of hypo's you may be having.

Take a look at Runsweet, it was set-up to help those with type 1 diabetes enjoy exercise:

http://www.runsweet.com/
 
Definitely don't let your diabetes stop you from exercise-if you go too low during exercise then you need to reduce your insulin two-four hours before exercise :) I have two units less the meal before exercise or I put four teaspoons of glucose powder (you can buy from holland and barrets) in my water and sip during cardio exercise :)


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Kelsie - thanks I'll try that, I'm getting fed up of jelly babies.
 
Hi,

I'm quite recently diagnosed too, 15 months ago and have to admit that exercise can be challenging. I do lots of hillwalking which brings my levels down quite quickly..at the moment here's what I do....


Before heading out for a walk take NO long acting insulin with breakfast (using bran as it's quite slow acting).. I aim to get my levels around 10mmol before starting. Although this seems a little high I know that it's going to fall quite quickly so shouldn't be too detrimental in the long term.

When walking I find I need 3/4 jelly babies every 20/25 minutes, more if the gradient is very steep.. I make sure I check regularly using the excellent Aviva Mobile monitor - no strips so really convenient to use when out and about. If out the full day I eat my lunch as normal (approx. 70gms carb) and again don't take any long acting insulin.. if you eat relatively slow acting carbs these will have burned off long before raising your levels significantly once you start exercising again.

Using the method above I find that I can be out for a full day walking and keep my levels pretty decent.. I just make sure I drink plenty of fluids so may substitute a few Jelly babies for the odd sip of Lucozade

It is really difficult to find any "official" advice regarding exercise, I've asked at the local hospital and doctors etc. but nothing seems to be forthcoming so I've just experimented over the last few months and found what works for me... inevitably you'll probably have to do the same

Simon
 
then when I'm running or at the gym I daren't put much effort in as I worry they'll go too low.
Click to expand...
Your best bet is probably to test your BG more frequently during exercise until you get a better idea of how much carbs you need to keep it steady (you don't need to be > 10 to exercise - you merely need to counter the fall in Bg due to exercise).

As for reducing insulin, I'd imagine it would be easier to cut back in other meals and have fit-for-purpose carbs for exercising than to run right after having a full meal.
 
Following as now super confused; my endocrinologist and the nutritionist for type 1's told me *not* to exercise if higher.... he said around 6 or 7 is the perfect starting point and that if I was above 10, not to exercise as it will just push my numbers higher.... which I have to say has been my experience....

As a caveat to the above though; though my c-peptide is low I'm not yet on insulin as I'm in the honeymoon phase - so perhaps this is why the conflicting advice....?
 
@-Artemis-
Most articles I read suggest that you should be careful with levels above about 13mmol/l because you may not have enough insulin. Maybe as someone in the honeymoon stage this might apply at a lower level for you since you may have very little left. It was trying to exercise that precipitated my own diagnosis as I developed the symptoms of DKA .
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/in-depth/diabetes-and-exercise/art-20045697

I would prefer to start at a lower level than 10mmol/l, I've found that if I start higher I drop just as quickly (most of my exercise is moderate cardiovascular so it drops rather than raises levels.)
I've done a lot of testing during exercise and have found that I need to drip feed glucose. I don't often take more than 2 tablets at a time, often only one . I have a pump so I can reduce basal and exercise with a very small basal. Before that it was far more difficult.
 
Thanks everyone :) I was told by the dietician to exercise between 10 and 12 - maybe this is because I'm quite newly diagnosed. I read online you shouldn't exercise if GL are above 16/17 as they can go too high. I've bought some small glucose drinks so I'll try sipping those next time I go to the gym.
 
phoenix said:
@-Artemis-
Most articles I read suggest that you should be careful with levels above about 13mmol/l because you may not have enough insulin. Maybe as someone in the honeymoon stage this might apply at a lower level for you since you may have very little left. It was trying to exercise that precipitated my own diagnosis as I developed the symptoms of DKA .
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/in-depth/diabetes-and-exercise/art-20045697

I would prefer to start at a lower level than 10mmol/l, I've found that if I start higher I drop just as quickly (most of my exercise is moderate cardiovascular so it drops rather than raises levels.)
I've done a lot of testing during exercise and have found that I need to drip feed glucose. I don't often take more than 2 tablets at a time, often only one . I have a pump so I can reduce basal and exercise with a very small basal. Before that it was far more difficult.
Click to expand...


Ah - thanks @phoenix - makes more sense! Yes.... I think it's because he was saying I can't inject to bring my no's back down that I need to be especially careful; and now you mention it, I'm sure he did link it in with the risk of DKA... Which leads me to another point you may or may not be able to clarify; in my post here: http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/what-is-insulin-like.60890/ someone mentioned that they thought I wouldn't need to be cautious about ketones.... but I don't understand why that would be as I thought all diabetics could develop DKA...? Any clarification appreciated! :-)
 
Hi Kathryn321

Sometimes the amount of information you get can be an overload when trying to control your BS's. If you are relatively fit (and you sound like you are!) try to incorporate some HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) into your routine or completely replace your low/medium impact Cardio with a HIIT session.

When you do a HIIT session your liver releases Glycogen from its store (Causing your BS to go UP :) This is contrary to low and medium impact Cardio that makes your BS drop.
 
I've been for a run this morning, about 2 miles. My glucose levels were 7.8 at breakfast which is quite high in a morning for me, I had a cereal bar and a banana (I'd usually inject 4 or 5 units for this but just had 2) they were then 18.2 so I did a correction dose they came down to 12.1. I went for the run and now they are 19!

I still can't seem to get it right either too high or too low. X


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