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Is my body threatened by exercise?

Dougal

Dougal

Well-Known Member
Messages
153
Location
Hampshire
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
I am a T1 on a pump. I am preparing to lose 25kg, I am well aware of the LC option that seems to be working so well for so many. My question is this: if I walk for more than 4 minutes, my BG skyrockets! Is this normal?

I am so unfit that it really isn't funny, and have tried to start moving on several occasions but I find the fact that I have to increase my basal rate to 250% before I decide to make any effort, and keep it at this level for >4 hours after exercise very difficult to deal with. Also the sudden increase in BG makes me feel nauseous and physically ill.

This is no excuse, but this situation makes me dread exercise. I spoke to my DSN and consultant about this, they believe that my body releases large amounts of adrenalin when I exercise which is what is causing this problem.

Does anyone else have experience of this, or any theories? Will it decrease if I persevere? Any advice is welcome, thanks.


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hi, im t2 and avoid commenting on t1s but maybe theres something useful on www.runsweet.com its a great resource for t1 and exercise

nice job for the effort, best of luck :)
 
maybe start to walk for 2 minutes once or thrice a day? if that spikes you too much, try one minute. one minute is 1000% better than zero minutes
 
ls it possibly like t2 can get...when your bg first in early days starts to come down to normal the body "panics" and thinks you are having a hypo. As the body adjusts it stops now l am fine but it took a bit of time.

Your body may have some sort of panic response to excercise and your mental reaction does seem mirrors this.

Have you had a problem during or around excercise that stopped you...heart attack pain from injury or similar to family/friend?

lt is probably worth taking a good look at past history if need be get a councilor to help.
4 minutes is no worse that what you may do going to a kitchen filling a kettle going to fridge get out bits go fetch mug ofrom lounge back again...you get my meaning?

This is why your comments make me think it may be primary psychological not primary physical.
 
It is an idea, I don't think I've ever seriously considered it. I don't know anyone who is serious about exercise, no runners, serious walkers, gym attendees . . . I think that is quite unusual . . . have I done this to myself on purpose?


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It sounds as if you feel threatened by the thought of it and are putting exercise into a specific category of something that you really don't like. Don't think gyms and running, think about increasing the activity that you do in your normal everyday life.
Do your glucose levels rise if you stroll into a shop for a few minutes ?
Start from what you can do and gradually increase. If you are getting out of breath in your 4 minutes walk then you are walking too briskly for your present fitness. Anaerobic exercise ie breathless exercise will raise levels. So as your nurse says will cortisol so if you get uptight worrying about an exercise session this will come into play ( T1s who are competitive athletes can find this happens in matches or races whilst in training their glucose falls)
Don't label it exercise. If you are driving to the shops park at the far end of the supermarket. If you have stairs in the office or in the shop walk at least one flight (and gradually increase it) . If you are watching television, get up every half hour and have a walk around the house, or the room. Walk at a level that enables you to talk or even sing. Lots of people on here have found a pedometer useful. (there are expensive electronic ones but also fairly cheap basic ones. Start counting the steps that you take in a day , however many steps you make today, try to do a few more tomorrow.
 
Hi Dougal, this is exactly what happens to me! I have had a pump for a month now and joined a gym at the same time. I now do a temporary basal increase as any type of exercise seems to raise it.
But there is a bit of hope! After 4 weeks I'm finding that the spikes are not as aggressive and the cardio that used to lower my blood sugars are starting behave as they used to.
I hadn't exercised in blummin years and it is like my body went into total shock.
Have a word with your DSN about doing a temp basal in preparation.
Don't give up as it does make you feel better and better. And gives you a feeling of taking control.


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I never thought that I was threatened by the thought of it before today. I would like to move more.

My BG increases even if I stroll into a shop for a few minutes. I don't think that I worry about moving more, and 4 minutes is perhaps too precise to be 100% accurate but shortly after moving more (whether I am aware of it or not) my BG skyrockets. I have an elderly dog, and she and I take a 1/3 mile stroll most afternoons. I certainly do not find this stressful, I don't worry about it - I really enjoy us spending time together and I look forward to it on every level that I can analyse, but the same still happens. Before anyone mentions it, I am not agoraphobic. The location makes no difference.
 
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