Blood sugar spikes with running

[Stephie]

I'm wondering if anyone has had similar problems to me and has found a way to cope.

I'm on a split dose of levemir taken at 9am/9pm. If I go out running at around 6.30pm, when I set off my BS is usually around 6mmol/L. When I get back usually no more than an hour later, my BS is usually around 15mmol/L and still rising. I usually haven't eaten anything since around 2pm. It then takes about 3 hours to get things under control again. It's very frustrating.

I'm fairly sure this is caused by the levemir in my system being close to 'running out'. If I go running at midday, my BS stays fairly stable.

Can anyone suggest a fix, so I can actually go out with my running club at 6.30pm? I'm not keen on taking fast acting and eating before I run because I've no idea how that will affect me. I'll probably end up having hypos instead.

 

[Melgar]

Hi there @Stephie . I'm just going to make a general comment as I'm not on insulin so I'll be mindful what I say. Running or anything that raises my heart rate will increase my blood sugars. Depending on the amount of exertion, my blood sugars can go from my baseline of 6mmol/ls to over 11mmol/ls. I'm fit and lean. If it is a slow jog, my blood sugars will rise, but it will not be a high rise. If I sprint, or hill climb then I will see my blood sugars rise significantly.

 

[LionChild]

Well, that is interesting! My BG goes down when I walk (not fast), down when I go on my elliptical machine (not too much exertion mind), and up when I do stretching or a small amount of weight lifting.... I have no idea how this works!

Hi there @Stephie . I'm just going to make a general comment as I'm not on insulin so I'll be mindful what I say. Running or anything that raises my heart rate will increase my blood sugars. Depending on the amount of exertion, my blood sugars can go from my baseline of 6mmol/ls to over 11mmol/ls. I'm fit and lean. If it is a slow jog, my blood sugars will rise, but it will not be a high rise. If I sprint, or hill climb then I will see my blood sugars rise significantly.

 

[Melgar]

@LionChild the reason blood sugars rise during strenuous activity, such as weights , resistance training and fast sprints, is your body releases stress hormones which activates a glycogen release. This release 'instructs' your liver to produce glucose and release it into your blood stream. It is a typical fight or flight response. If you are just walking this glycogen release may not be happening so you are burning your blood sugars, hence the drop.

 

[LionChild]

@LionChild the reason blood sugars rise during strenuous activity, such as weights , resistance training and fast sprints, is your body releases stress hormones which activates a glycogen release. This release 'instructs' your liver to produce glucose and release it into your blood stream. It is a typical fight or flight response. If you are just walking this glycogen release may not be happening so you are burning your blood sugars, hence the drop.

Thanks Melgar!