Type 2 High GI foods prior to exercise or not?

biroboy said:

I have been treating my T2 with a low carb/moderate exercise diet. I am now off Metformin and ideally will exercise after meals in order reduce bg.

One area of debate that I have with my wife is whether to have high or low glycemic foods prior to exercise. On one hand low GI foods release energy over a longer period of time and minimises sugar spikes (which is good). However these sugars may not be washed out by exercise. So my view is that high GI foods prior to exercise would be good as can create an early spike that means sugars can be easily absorbed.

This thread is prompted by a recent discussion with a GP said that my high bg levels early in the morning (even if I have exercised the night before) might be due to low GI foods working their way through the system rather then a dawn purge as I had previously assumed.

Any thoughts gratefully appreciated.

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What do you do now, and how is that working out? It's all very personal really.

Personally, I don't snack, so I certainly don't feed before exercise. In terms of meals, I would have whatever was on the cards, whether exercising or not. I'm pleased to say that I've never had issues with exercise.

Cutting to the chase, you have to set yourself a few trials.

I seem to have found a pattern for me, which is initially on the Low Carb / High Fat diet, when I was going to do some major exercise - like a 3/4 hour bike ride, I'd have some low GI carbs - Toast and Jam frinstance, and testing my BG along the way, found it stayed low. So great - I can have a treat now and then as long as I exercise it away.

Then I found that if I didn't have those carbs but did the exercise I felt much improved afterwards and ready for more. One time, we cycled 30 miles, wife went for a lie down but I was just buzzing with energy, so went into the kitchen and danced for 30mins on my own to the Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show. Even the bits where he talks ***** in between records.

I was a little worried that it was some kind of manic episode, but it seems to be a pattern. It seems it's a side effect of burning fat mode. Now I run up and down stairs, or even do housework (extreme, I know).

I was told that if I'm going to have fruit or a cookie or a treat, to try to time it so it's before exercise, as I will 'burn it off'.

I don't like being under 5 mmol before I exercise, so I've treated with a little something sweet, if I was in a rush. But would I purposely, stock up on high GI foods before working out? I wouldn't.

Cardio will lower your BG (or have no affect) and weight lifting will raise your BG, Although, sometimes after a run my BG will go up a bit, but not during a run. I wouldn't suggest eating high GI food before cardio exercising - I've tried that and it resulted in a hyppo for me. you can always experiment with your meter or, better yet, get a Freestyle Libre for your experiments.

In the same as @NoCrbs4Me.... Cardio drops, resistance raises, but not for long.

I am now fully Keto adapted on my LCHF lifestyle diet and so no carbs whether Low or high GI before any exercise and I do a 42 hour fast 1 day per week and that still does not affect my ability to train.

My body now uses the fat for energy


Diagnosed 13/4/16: T2, no meds, HbA1c 53, FBG 12.6, Trigs 3.6, HDL .75, LDL 4.0, BP 169/95, 13st 8lbs, waist 34" (2012 - 17st 7lbs, w 42").

6/6/16: FBG AV 4.6, Trigs 1.5, HDL 2.0, LDL 3.0, BP 112/68, BPM 66, 11st 11lbs, waist 30".

Regime: 20g LCHF, run 1 mile daily, weekly fasting.