• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Blood levels and cycling

SPC123

Member
Messages
5
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi

I am a type 1 diabetic who enjoys road cycling

I do not have time for long rides but regularly will ride 15-25 miles to try and keep weight under control

I have read about fasting training ie setting off without eating anything. If I do this I find that my sugars stay fairly constant and I do not need to stop for snacks or find my sugars constantly falling at all

if I eat before I ride or inject any insulin at all I find my sugars drop all the time and I need to snack or take on board sugar every 45 minutes or so.

Just wondering why a fasting ride works like this and if it is recommended for diabetics

Any help appreciated

Thanks
 
What time of day do you ride?
I find if I cycle first thing, whilst my liver is doing its dumping thing, I do not need to eat and my blood sugars stay level - I assume this is because the liver dump is balancing the blood sugar drop due to cycling.
If I cycle any other time of the day, I would go low without outside assistance. As I have a pump, I make sure I have no bolus on board (not eaten for 3 hours prior) and suspend my basal for the hour before I ride.
 
Usually ride 7-8 o clock in the morning and if high go out without eating

often find sugars at that time 8-10ish and on the ride stay at that and sometimes despite exercise increase. Must admit never heard of a liver dump but would explain Soto for my other readings

rides where sugar under pressure usually mid pm or early evening

thanks for your reply.
 
I generally cycle or run in the mornings and only on pump basal, no bolus until lunch time. I do tend to drift up towards lunch, possibly a liver dump so often have to bolus a unit or two late morning. It’s never been commented on or discussed at clinic but I haven’t raised it either. If it works for me then it works for me.
 
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn More.…