Gym before or after evening dinner

[xmas]

Hi guys I'm starting going to the gym now 3 or 4 days a week now I can go tea time? should I go before it or after my evening meal which is my biggest meal of the day

Thanks

 

[LaughingHyena]

I'd try both and see how it affects your sugars.

Personally I find excercising before a meal, especially if it means I'm eating a little later than usuall can be tricky and I tend to drop a bit too low. I usally need a small snack to see me through.

If I know I'm excercising after a meal then I can drop a bit of my novoraid with the meal and not drop too low. Still experimenting with exactly how much and it does mean excercising has to be planned which is not easy for me to do.

If I'm excercising before a meal dropping the novorapid at the previous meal would leave me too high all afternoon, which I prefer to avoid.

 

[AMBrennan]

Depends on what kind of exercise you're planning on doing, and how much it affects your blood sugar by. If exercise significantly affects your blood glucose (e.g. high intensity cardio is likely to do this), you'll need extra carbs for the exercise.

Unless you are trying to lose weight, it might be easier to have those extra carbs in addition to your other meals - you won't have to exercise on a full stomach and by sipping Lucozade (or juice, or sugar water, etc) throughout the exercise you can easily stop if you plans change (stop early if you're too exhausted - but you can also grab another bottle and keep going if you feel like it).

 

[Sheffield27]

Hi Xmas,

I to have started going to the gym and am about a month in to going 3 - 4 times a week as well so will tell you waht I have worked out about my BG levels and hopefully it might be practical advice.

I always go before my evening meal, main reason beoing that after mealtime I tend to be a bit sluggish and just want to relax and watch a bit of TV etc.

I eat a very light lunch and tend to have fruit as snacks during the day, when I get back (on a good day my sugars tend to be about 7) When I started going to the gym with BG 7 and did between 40mins - hour of fairly intensive excercise by the time I got home I was around 2 or 3... This wasnt so much of a problem if I ate immedietly but obviously most fopod has prep time etc so I would end up having to have something to treat Hypo then evening meal on top (not good when you are trying to lose a few lbs...)

What I do now if I am around the 7 mark before I go is have a small carton of orange juice (lunchbox size) or a banana, this tends to give me an initial jump to about 10 or so but by the time I have worked out im back down to around 5. Again I need to eat fairly swifly when Im back but at least Im not having a hypo.

Hope this helps and good luck on the fitness drive!

 

[xmas]

Thanks

 

[Pneu]

Just remember either way to keep an eye on your blood glucose and test regularly post exercise as your body can be replenishing glucose stores for a number of hours after you finish exercising.

 

[sd29]

I use the gym or do a class / swim every day and find different activities have different effects. My DSN recommended the website run sweet which is brilliant for insulin adjustment and general sports advice. I have used it for info on activities when on basal bolus and a pump. Highly recommend.