Bg and exercise

[Amanda2376]

Why does bg Increase significantly afta exercise? I run 3 x wk on empty stomach which works well for me but bg definitely spikes immediately afta. Wots goin on??

 

[Mike d]

Fact is, it doesn't ... mine drops every time. That does NOT apply to all diabetics, but apply it does, at least in my case.

 

[Snapsy]

I'm the same as you, @Amanda2376 . I'm on a pump, and I find I either need a small bolus after exercise, or I set a raised temporary basal rate for up to 90 minutes after I've finished exercising.

As for why, I assume it's adrenaline from the activity causing the spike. Endurance exercise in my case tends to lower blood glucose, but shorter, more intensive exercise raises it.

 

[dancer]

I always lowered my insulin for exercise but recently one of my dance lessons was changed from after lunch to before. I continued to reduce my basal by 30% till I realised that my BG was going into the teens after my lesson. Now, if dancing before a meal, I only use a reduced basal if my BG is below target and give a correction with my meal bolus. I still have to look out for hypos a few hours later, though - sometimes they happen and sometimes they don't!

 

[Deleted Account]

It depends.

I find my BG depends greatly on the type of exercise, time of exercise, length of exercise, my fitness and when I last took my insulin.
For example,
- climbing ALWAYS increases by BG.
- Short run (15 minutes) increases my BG
- Long run (30 minutes) usually decreases my BG in the afternoon/evening and increases it in the morning
- Cycling (which I am not used to so not very fit at) always increases my BG
- Weights increase my BG
- Interval training (HIIT) increases my BG unless I have some insulin on board

As a general rule of thumb, cardio decreases, resistance increase, long decreases, short increases, hard work increases, easy decreases/

 

[fletchweb]

I've had both experiences and know what drives my BGs. It's called Adrenalin. When ever I'm in sport competitions such as a triatholon or races my body produces Adrenalin and this has a BIG affect on my BGs - there's been competitions where I started at 6.7 and by the end of it I'm in the 20s.
However, when I do canoe expeditions or hiking/climbing I literally have to skip shots - with my canoe expeditions I usually drop to 2 shots (I usually take 4) otherwise my BGs will be too low. The factor in this seems to be adrenaline - when I go on my canoe expeditions (with the exception of white water runs) it's a steady endurance type of activity that is pretty steady for about 7 or 6 hours - not the same when you're in a competition.
Anyway, that's what I discovered from all the activities I've done in the past - I don;t do competitions anymore - I'm now 55 and getting tired of losing to people half my age but I still do the canoe/hiking/climbing expeditions where you're usually calm the whole time.

 

[Alison Campbell]

Exercise mostly drops me to the low 4's and I have caught a few 3.7s on my meter before my liver dumps glucose. I might be imagining it but I get a quick weird feeling when my liver dumps and test again and I'm in mid to high 4's .