Can exercising after meals work a bit like using rapid action insulin?

Shaners said:

Hi all, okay so I'm like a week new to all this just been Diagnosed with type 1 and this might sound stupid but.. I hate needles(I know know have to now get used to it) and was wondering if exercising brings blood glucose down, could exercising after a high carb meal bring my sugars back down instead of having to take the novo rapid before my meal to bring it down afterwards?

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Hi @Shaners

A warm welcome to the forum.

Unfortunately it just doesn't work like that. Insulin is the "key" to powering the body from all the digested carb that break down (when digested.) to the sugar in the blood stream...
If you're only a week in since diagnosis? There maybe the "honeymoon period" where the pancreas spasmodically still produces insulin? But that still won't last...

Tagging in @daisy1 & @catapillar

Shaners said:

Hi all, okay so I'm like a week new to all this just been Diagnosed with type 1 and this might sound stupid but.. I hate needles(I know know have to now get used to it) and was wondering if exercising brings blood glucose down, could exercising after a high carb meal bring my sugars back down instead of having to take the novo rapid before my meal to bring it down afterwards?

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No such luck. Your glucose levels can rise faster than you can burn them. It would an extraordinary amount of exercise to replace insulin therapy. More than the body could tolerate.

Shaners said:

Yes a week in and finding a lot confusing lol, Ahh yes they said about the honeymoon period and that it should be over soon, I think in my head I'm trying everything to avoid the fact I'm gunna need it for all meals, well thankyou anyway.

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I realy don't like to be the bearer of news like that...

But. If you are into excersise..? (It don't do no harm!) There is plenty of BS mananagment tips from Insulin dependant sports types on here!

Hi @Shaners sorry to hear your struggling. But no, exercise doesn't act like fast acting insulin. You can't manage type 1 with exercise and avoid injecting. You might require less fast acting when exercising but to assume you wouldn't need any and to see exercise as an alternative to injecting would be reckless. Sorry, you need to inject with meals.

It's perfectly possible to exercise safely with type 1. And that might mean less insulin, but that means lower dosages not entirely omitting injections, and it would also mean more blood sugar testing.

www.runsweet.com has a good bit of info on exercise with type 1,

Hi Shaners
Welcome welcome and please don't despair at the thought of needles.
I use a 4mm which if you compare to the rocket sized ones i had over 40 years ago when first diagnozed then its a walk in the park for me.
And even after all this time i can't bear anyone else injecting me and can't watch anyone else injecting themselves.
Its on my records at the dentists that if i need a needle in my gob they know not to tell me what they are doing and to just get on with it.
So fear of needles is more common than you think........

Welcome again and all the best

Tony

@Shaners Nice Spaniels


Sorry dude as above you're going to need injections or a pump regardless.

You *might* be able to sometimes reduce the amount of injections you need a day with low carb eating (do you know about carbs yet?) Have a look around at all of the info and try to take some stuff onboard welcome

Welcome @Shaners

You've got great advice above. I'd also add that you should push to be shown how to carb count and adjust your meal time insulin as that's crucial,for good control, and I recommend the book Think Like A Pancreas - as that's what you have to do

@Shaners

Hello and welcome to the Forum Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it helpful. Ask as many questions as you want and someone will be able to help.


BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 147,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.

There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:

• Reduce your carbohydrate intake
• Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates

Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.

Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a free 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.

Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes

• Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l

Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)

• Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l

Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)

• Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l

However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips

The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:

• structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
• self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.

Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. They're all free.

• Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why
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I think that it can help.

Depending on your carb to insulin ratio, you can reduce the amount of insulin needed to bring your blood sugar back to pre-meal level within two hours. Everyone has different requirements.

I find that for breakfast and lunch, having about 40g of carbs with each, low impact exercise, walking, gardening sort of stuff requires no insulin. Evening meal at 40g of carb will require 8 to 10 unit of Novorapid. My long acting isn't set too high either, as fasting tests, both day and night, show that my blood sugar stays steady through the day. I was diagnosed four years ago and the current ratios have been steady for the past six months. I did have a honeymoon period where I needed next to no insulin for about 6 to 8 months, but suspect that it's long over. I test up to 10 times a day and keep detailed logs, recording timings, doses, carbs and calories and so on. I haven't had a HB1AC above 5.3 since diagnosis.

This can result in a four hour round of golf requiring some carb loading before starting and then regular nibbles on the way round to avoid going low.

Hope this helps.

As others have mentioned, exercise MAY lower your insulin requirements (I think of it as some exercise makes your body use insulin more efficiently). It depends on the type of exercise: aerobic exercise such as running or cycling, typically, reduces your BG; anaerobic exercise such as weigh lifting, interval training and, in my case, climbing, typically increases your BG.
However, although it reduces your insulin requirements, you still need insulin. In fact, you will probably need to inject as often as you would without exercise: just less insulin in each injection. Therefore, unfortunately, you cannot avoid the needles.
On the other hand, most people get used to the needles. I certainly find it easier to inject myself than be injected by someone else. I always look away when I am having blood tests for my annual check-up.
Good luck managing your diabetes. And to pass on the best advice I was given when I was diagnosed: don't let it stop you doing what you want.

Hi, if and when I exercise after a meal, normally long walks, I have to take 2 to 3 units less, depending on my BS before I eat and how far I am walking.
When I was diagnosed and back home, my mum who was a nurse, said 'why did it have to happen to you" because nursing runs in my family, but stops with me, I hated blood, injections the thought of stitches made me nearly faint, but we do it, we have to and the needles are so discreet and small, you hardly notice. In time is will get easier, but it can be a scary and an anxious time right now, but you can do, just believe in yourself
Take care x