DiabeticJim
Active Member
Hi all - this is my first post to this forum. I'm hoping to hear from other T1Ds that have have an interest in cycling and how they deal manage their diabetes.
I ride once or twice a week - whenever I can get the chance in fact. I mostly ride early mornings and do about 3hrs at a decent pace covering 30-50 miles on the average ride. Sometimes more, sometimes less. There's the occasional sportive and might have a go at racing this year.
I use an Animas Insulin Pump and have recently started using the Freestyle Libre too. I tried the Dexcom CGM which links to the Animas Pump but I actually prefer the Freestyle Libre - but that's a discussion for another time.
The problem I am having is keeping my levels in my target range at the start and throughout my cycle rides. My BGs almost always spike after breakfast and drop back down to normal before lunch even when not exercising. The problem is that having high BGs really does affect performance - anything over 14 mmol while exercising is not good. I notice this too. My bloods drop down within range about 1-2 hrs in.
Breakfast usually consists of 2x instant porridge packets, banana and fresh berries, glass of OJ watered down (only 10gms carbs of OJ) and a strong coffee.
I've recently started taking my bolus for breakfast about 15 mins before eating and that seems to have helped with the spike - yet to try that pre cycling though.
Dropping my basal by -70% an hour or two before and then dropping it down to -90% when I start seems to work best. If I dont do this then I'll almost certainly hypo fairly quickly - I've even left the pump at home before now (does not help at the coffee/cake stop though
Do check out the pro cycling team - Team Novo Nordisk. They are an inspiring group of people and have some good advice but its quite generic on the website i.e. try to keep BGs in target range - derrr :/
You can follow me on Twitter here for my occasional tweets on Diabetes and other rubbish.
I'm really interested to hear from other cyclist diabetics on their experiences - I hope to hear from you soon.
James
I ride once or twice a week - whenever I can get the chance in fact. I mostly ride early mornings and do about 3hrs at a decent pace covering 30-50 miles on the average ride. Sometimes more, sometimes less. There's the occasional sportive and might have a go at racing this year.
I use an Animas Insulin Pump and have recently started using the Freestyle Libre too. I tried the Dexcom CGM which links to the Animas Pump but I actually prefer the Freestyle Libre - but that's a discussion for another time.
The problem I am having is keeping my levels in my target range at the start and throughout my cycle rides. My BGs almost always spike after breakfast and drop back down to normal before lunch even when not exercising. The problem is that having high BGs really does affect performance - anything over 14 mmol while exercising is not good. I notice this too. My bloods drop down within range about 1-2 hrs in.
Breakfast usually consists of 2x instant porridge packets, banana and fresh berries, glass of OJ watered down (only 10gms carbs of OJ) and a strong coffee.
I've recently started taking my bolus for breakfast about 15 mins before eating and that seems to have helped with the spike - yet to try that pre cycling though.
Dropping my basal by -70% an hour or two before and then dropping it down to -90% when I start seems to work best. If I dont do this then I'll almost certainly hypo fairly quickly - I've even left the pump at home before now (does not help at the coffee/cake stop though
Do check out the pro cycling team - Team Novo Nordisk. They are an inspiring group of people and have some good advice but its quite generic on the website i.e. try to keep BGs in target range - derrr :/
You can follow me on Twitter here for my occasional tweets on Diabetes and other rubbish.
I'm really interested to hear from other cyclist diabetics on their experiences - I hope to hear from you soon.
James
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