Couchto5k Type 1 difficulties with running...

@Juicyj runs and may have top tips.
I have stopped running but used to find that I needed a correction after a run as sugars would rise.

Thanks @Diakat

Hi and welcome @Jem154

Firstly well done for getting so far on the couch to 5km. I tend to run in the morning as I find it easier to manage glucose levels, ideally I aim to run with levels above 7 but no higher than 12 as running high prevents glucose entering the cells and I am slow and sluggish. I always have something to eat before I run though and do eat low carb so just plain yoghurt and berries with a small 1/2 bolus shot, if I have an easy run of around 30 mins then I'd expect my levels to drop to around 5-6, if I am pushing hard then I can expect to see a rise from adrenaline and correct afterwards, I do use the G6 so can monitor levels during my run without stopping, but it is trial and error, don't let this morning out you off, it's all a learning curve so try a different strategy when you next go out.

Hi @Jem154

Well done so far - it's not easy.

I'm T2 diet controlled and in my 6th week of zero to 5k. I struggle to get it right! Today was my homework day so I ate my usual breakfast and lunch, worked hard lumping fence posts about for 4 hours, then went for a 2.6 mile run, and felt quite unwell. I ran out of energy but my BS was 6 which is high for me on that amount of food.
I'll try to eat more protein before my evening run tomorrow but of course my situation is so different to yours.

Hi @Jem154 as your running on an empty stomach your liver would compensate by dumping some glucose in your blood to get you moving, this compounds things hence why eating something no matter how small will help avoid this spike afterwards, it’s trial and error as I said but I would never run on empty.

Unfortunately I did my 5km this morning and went low from 13.8, I know why as I overdid eating did a guess on carbs/insulin and trusted my cgm reading which was out.

That said to me it’s all experience, I wouldn’t let anything affect my running though so try to focus on your running and making slight improvements don’t focus on the numbers it let anything put you off getting out there, once you get it right there will be no stopping you

Attached my graph to show what happened however what it doesn’t show is that I went down to 3.4... doh !!

Hi @Jem154

As others have said, well done on your achievements with the Couch to 5K programme so far.

I started with Couch to 5K in January 2017 and it is a great plan to follow. As you I mainly try and run first thing in the morning before any food. I find this works well for me. Over time I have started to have confidence in doing runs later in the day or maybe a parkrun or race which would always be after breakfast.

I did 6 half marathons in 2018 and am training for an Ultra Marathon this July, so your Type 1 diabetes is no barrier its all about learning what works and what doesn't.

I also see a rise after certain runs dependent on the effort levels but I feel it will quite quickly start to reduce.

Good luck with your exercise, it is a great thing for helping Diabetes Control. I've just begun trying to reduce the carbs in my diet, not too sure yet how that will work out with running