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Blood sugar control

B

brianbenson1977

Member
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Hi, my son has had type 1 diabetes since he was 3 years old, now he is 8 and coping really well, we both enjoy swimming but find it hard finding something to keep his sugar levels up for the duration of our swim (about 1 hour) don't want to alter his insulin levels because he is doing well with them as they are, can anyone help?
 
Hi Brian

I'd say it's worth experimenting with some extra carbohydrate before the swim.

Test before and immediately after swimming each time to see how your son's levels are responding.

Make any adjustments to the carb quantity as a result of the tests.

Is this helpful at all?

Ed
 
When I'm swimming I bring a (plastic) lucozade bottle in and put it at one end of the pool. You can then take sips at the end of each double length if you need to, just to keep the blood sugar topped up.
I do understand why you don't want to mess with the dose but eating the extra carbs is also messing with the blood sugars really because you can easily end up too high. I would recommend giving it a go to reduce the insulin, depending on when your son is taking his jabs. Eg if he's eating then going to swim shortly after, just reduce the dose by 1 unit and see what happens.
Everyone's different, but just to give you an idea, I would normally take 6 units in the morning for my breakfast slice of toast and jam. On swim days (32 lengths) I take 4 units to get the same effect blood-sugar wise.
 
I do understand why you don't want to mess with the dose
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I don't like doing that for a number of reasons - it would mean having to exercise right after eating a proper meal, or having elevated BG for quite a while. Given that I need 40g glucose for a typical swim I would have to start with 15 mmol/l which would make me feel quite unwell. Further, I would have to stick to my regular training program every time (exhausted after half a set? Pool unexpectantly closed? Too bad)

So I think having a bottle of lucozade (or Glucose + C mixed with tea - much cheaper) is much more fleixible unless you're trying to swim the Channel or something like that.
 
Please don't think I am being flippant in any way . I am not. Last year i saw a Consultant in the hospital who told me that "insulin is good stuff but just doesn't cover the unexpected"

I am T2. That statement really struck me. it JUST doesn't cover the unexpected. IS HAY ALL?

How many of us lead such predictable lives that we don't encounter the unepected on a daily basis?
As for the parents of youncg children like the OP!
Its hard enough to cope with the unexpecrted as a T2 . Yes i know there are differnt types of insuli and you learn [mostly } to balance it all but still....
Hats off to T!s I say. Your daily struggle is underestimaed.
 
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