Hiit

[Colly1]

I've recently started doing HIIT training having read that it's good for diabetics, however it seems to make my blood glucose levels higher. Can anyone explain why this is happening. Thanks

 

[woollygal]

It does that to me as well, however after about an hour it tends to drop a lot lower. From what I understand because HIIT is so intensive the liver will drop glucose into the blood to give you energy. For most people this is great news just not for us,
I’ve spoken to my dr about it and she is happy with it. It’s the longer term effect of the exercise that is important so the shorter term rise will be overcome by the longer term reduction

 

[Lamont D]

I've recently started doing HIIT training having read that it's good for diabetics, however it seems to make my blood glucose levels higher. Can anyone explain why this is happening. Thanks

It is too intense!
I am the same, I cannot do a heavy strenuous exercise regimen.
The answer is to do exercise that doesn't make you feel awful. I walk a lot, I would recommend swimming, something that gives the same as a workout but takes a lot longer. Before lockdown I would walk in my job and then at home for about twelve hours a day.
That was a little over the top but did have a good effect on my fitness.
I know have a little time now but every time I eat, fifteen minutes after, I would have a brisk walk for fifteen minutes or more. Walking is really good for your health and your mental health.
It would also be more satisfying to me, than doing all that hard work.

Keep safe

 

[Maco]

There’s no reason to not do HIIT, with a little bit of work you can manage your diabetes alongside your training. I train 6 days a week at a minimum, all heavy weight sessions with 20/30 minute HIIT cardio. HIIT or steady state cardio can improve insulin sensitivity. Going for a walk fair enough is still exercise but personally for me it just wouldn’t cut it for a good ‘workout’.

With good control & a little understanding you can easily control your levels. I’ll always have a prework meal which on a low carb day would be a banana with 25g of peanut butter it would also be the same for a medium carb day. For a high carb day I would have a blueberry muffin, one of the big ones you get in the packs of 4. I’ll then train & afterwards have a post workout protein shake as well as Rice Krispies cereal. Low day would be 40Grams of cereal, medium day would be 60grams then finally high carb day would be 100Grams of cereal. Might seem like a huge amount especially when 100Grams of Rice Krispies contains 82 grams of carbs but if you’ve got your ratios right you’ll be absolutely fine.

One thing I would say is don’t do any sort of training if you’ve had a hypo within 24hrs of your session especially if your kinda new to the gym. You’ll be more prone to having another hypo.

 

[DJC3]

I've recently started doing HIIT training having read that it's good for diabetics, however it seems to make my blood glucose levels higher. Can anyone explain why this is happening. Thanks

I do a Hiit workout once or twice a week usually. I find the same - bg rises steeply to begin with but then falls to a much lower level. I’ve started wearing a Libre CGM so it’s fascinating to see how steep the peak climbs and falls.
As I understand it the rise is ok so long as it’s not prolonged, it’s just the liver ‘helping out’ by providing glucose for those hard working muscles, which will then use it and so the levels drop.
I find that regular Hiit workouts bring my overall BG levels down. I do notice an overall rise in average BG levels if I stop for a couple of weeks.

 

[Deleted member 527103]

When we exercise, two diabetes related things happen to our bodies
- our liver release glucose to give us energy
- we become more efficient at using insulin

Short, high intensity exercise like HIIT often causes the first but is not long enough for the second leading to raised blood sugars.

I find the same with weights and climbing.

 

[VashtiB]

I am another who finds that exercise increases my levels. One suggestion is to eat something before- I wouldn't go as far as some have suggested but that's just me. I tend to do longer walks which works for me. A little experimenting is good.

I'm planning to up and change my exercise regime in the new year- not a definite plan yet but a definite need for a better work/life balance. I'm not sure what that will look like yet.

Good luck.

 

[LaoDan]

I've recently started doing HIIT training having read that it's good for diabetics, however it seems to make my blood glucose levels higher. Can anyone explain why this is happening. Thanks

I think your liver dumps glucose and your muscles release glycogen to be converted into lactose or lactic acid, or something like that.

I do high intensity training 5 days a week, for me it’s the next best thing after low carb. I hit the 7s while training, then I’m in the 4s for the next 24 hours.

it’s awesome

 

[NicoleC1971]

I've recently started doing HIIT training having read that it's good for diabetics, however it seems to make my blood glucose levels higher. Can anyone explain why this is happening. Thanks

It does spike you due to the hormonal effects of cortisol but it is very good for your heart which is something diabetics do need to be concerned about. I find I am not elevated all day long and my blood sugar drops in the hours afterwards so I wouldn't rule it out. The benefits apart from heart health are greater muscular strength and endurance which will increase insulin sensitivity.
Balance it with low intensity long duration exercise like cycling, walking done non intensively e.g. effort level 6/10 rather than 9 or 10/10!
It isn't that one is better than the other after all.