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blood sugars while exercising

I

iainmay

Member
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Right the journey to fitness continues and I am cycling 10-15 miles most days now. Today I decided to check my sugars while out because I have been noticing bad fatigue that felt a lot like a hypo.

Pre food - 5.2
1 hr post food - 6.3, Cycling commenced
1.30 post food - 3.7, feeling REALLY weak and slightly dizzy
2.00 post food - 4.4, exercise complete

Now my question is this. I dont really want to start exercising too close to eating, its really no good for the stomach. So is it worth taking a bottle of full sugar cordial mixed up and supping on that till I can get to the point where I stay close to 5? Or taking a home made sugar free cereal bar along on longer on longer rides?

It's really affecting my performance now and is quite concerning to see numbers that low (they are on the march down in general, but not THAT low!)

Any other suggestions appreciated

Thanks

Iain
 
Hi Iain.
You are certainly well fit and are taking things sensible with your approach.
Always make sure you do eat enough before the cycle trips . [to cover you safetly]
You could buy a packet of 'dextrol' energy tablets n pop them in your pocket.
If and when your BG's fall quite low just eat 2 - 4 of these, test again when raised levels safe again.
Or take a small banana with you, these are great for pushing up the BG levels.
Or a favourite one is a childs packet of jelly babies in your pocket.
I take these when out for a decent walk with my yorkies !
Things like lucozade can send the BG's super high and best only used if in serious hypo.
Hope these suggestions help?
Anna.x :)
 
I miss jelly babies, that sounds like a fantastic idea :D

To be honest I don't like to drink too much while out so something solid but not too bulky on the tum is a good plan.

Nice one

Iain
 
Why do you not want to drink??? Its so important to stay hydrated when excersising ,small carton of orange juice is my way of hydating and keeping bgs ok when out on hikes etc
 
iainmay said:
Right the journey to fitness continues and I am cycling 10-15 miles most days now. Today I decided to check my sugars while out because I have been noticing bad fatigue that felt a lot like a hypo.
Click to expand...

Cyclists call this "bonking", long distance runners call it "hitting the wall". It happens to everyone (diabetic or normal) at some time or another. It isn't a dangerous hypo, like an insulin using diabetic might experience, but it is difficult to carry on exercising through it. You can stave it off by eating when you're on your bike. Jelly babies sounds like a good idea (as long as you're careful and don't scoff too many).

Not drinking when you're on the bike sounds pretty silly to me too. The symptoms you're describing could also be from dehydration. The put bottle racks on bikes for a reason.
 
When I say I don't like to drink, I mean in large quantities. I carry a 3L camelback which I generally use about 1/3 of on a 15 mile run but its really small amounts regularly. Hence being concerned about getting enough sugar from a fluid based product.

I've also found today that a good sized portion of wholemeal rice and green curry seems to sort the problem out (either that or I'm getting fitter, or both) had some jelly babies at the end of the run, mainly because it was a steep uphill section and I was whacked. Sugars never fell below 4 and did'nt go above 5. Purfect!
 
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