Blood sugars higher after exercise

[hose1975]

Hi,

This might be a stupid question, but it would appear that after eating my lunch AND taking some gentle exercise, my blood sugars are higher at the one-hour mark than when I don't exercise.

To clarify: I have gestational diabetes and some pelvic pain, so don't go very far or very fast (about 2.5 mph!). Normally for about ten minutes. This is immediately after eating. I eat the same kinds of things on a regular basis.

Of course, this might all be entirely coincidental, but does anybody have any ideas as to what might be happening? I wondered about the liver dumping some glucose because of the exercise, but given that I have only just eaten on eaten on each occasion this would seem odd!

I thought exercise was supposed to lower blood sugars...

Many thanks for any insights

Jo

 

[Mileana]

I think you will find that it does - for a 2 or 3 hour test.

What can happen is if something is strenous - like if you have pain - your body will release some stress hormones which will raise your blood sugar slightly.

It may also be that the added exercise makes you process your food slightly faster.

Try keeping track of the 2 hour level instead or if you like, or try a form which doesn't cause you discomfort if at all possible - swiming springs to mind, some light exercises with a fitness ball and resistance bands might also be options.

How much difference are we talking?

-M

 

[didie]

I'm Type 2 and have found if I do exercise that raises my heart rate way up, then my blood sugar will rise after exercise. If I exercise and get my heart rate above 155-160 too much, then my levels are higher. I'm now sticking to aerobic exercise.

This is a great graph that helps explain it:-


http://www.runsweet.com/HeartRate.html

 

[Spiral]

I have had my highest and lowest readings after excercise.

Muscle is much better than fat at using the glucose in your system, so it is worth persisting in the long term as you will improve your insulin resistance.

Make sure you stay well hydrated - keep a bottle of water with you when you excercise.

If you are having pain, you might want to consider swimming. I loved swimming when I was pregnant, but it wasn't exactly strenuous excercise!

I had gestational diabetes in my second pregnancy, which was followed by full blown T2 a few years later. It is worth dealing with it now. I wish I knew then what I know now...