Less sugar - hypos / exercise

[Waterfall 888]

Dental bills, maintaining weight, other health issues.... trying to reduce sugar. Have jelly babies+ nairn or glucose shots for hypos. Tried sultanas, didn't work. Anyone using honey and how much do you need? When bg drops during exercise or snacks before exercise what do people eat? All advice much appreciated. Thanks

 

[SimonP78]

Have jelly babies+ nairn or glucose shots for hypos.

You can use the same for BG drops during exercise, though I prefer skittles, or ideally something with a mix of short and long acting carbs taken before going low. I quite like chocolate so Kitkats or similar provide a bit of both.

Tried sultanas, didn't work.

I sometimes eat raisins while riding just for variety, they are quite sweet and I get a BG reaction if I eat them when not exercising, hard to know how much effect they have while exercising as I just keep eating!

Anyone using honey and how much do you need?

Never used it, though people talk about carrying the little sachet/plastic pack things. Sounds messy, Nice on toast though, if I am heading low and need a of fast and long acting carbs (not while exercising though!)

When bg drops during exercise or snacks before exercise what do people eat?

Are you going low before exercise, or just wondering what to eat to avoid going low? I would tend to eat something with a mix of long and short carbs before exercise if I think there's a risk of going low - biscuits, granola bar, etc. I will also eat a sandwich uncovered before going for a ride if it'll be more than a couple of hours. If it's less than that I'll still eat uncovered but may need to take some insulin when I get home.

HTH

 

[Waterfall 888]

Thanks for the quick replies. Very helpful and much appreciated. Your advice gives a little more confidence making life easier. Surrounded by non diabetics who think the media type 2 diabetes is the only kind. Anytime I eat something sugary when going low they are a bit judgemental. It's taken me a while to understand type 1 diabetes, am still learning, even with excellent control it's like an untamed wild animal ....and not wanting to explain the complexities as folk without it, don't get it.

 

[SimonP78]

Interesting, I've never noticed people being judgmental, but perhaps I just don't notice!

I've never bothered to tell people that I'd diabetic, but if they notice and ask I tend to tell them that despite (T1) diabetes meaning I lack insulin, the usual failure mode is that I've got too much insulin on board and will therefore need to eat things rapidly. Other than that I don't think people really notice (unless I actually go low and they tell me afterwards I was acting a bit weird - at which point I tell them they should have told me earlier!) or I whip out a pen to jab myself (though most people are so busy doing their own thing I'm not sure many notice this either).

Having CGM readings on watch/phone and a pen is much less obvious than doing a finger prick test followed by drawing up insulin from vials with an old-school syringe

 

[Waterfall 888]

Definitely SimonP78 ...I go for low key as well. Despite using a pen and needle covers and trying to be discreet....some folk can't have lunch with me because it makes them squeamish. I know I would drop the pen down the loo

 

[Juicyj]

Hello @Waterfall 888

As a type 1 we need to use glucose when going low, particularly if levels are falling quickly and glucose is the best and fastest method to raise BG levels so attempting to avoid sugar is playing a tricky game as you're making the process slower to get levels safe again. I use glucotabs as they act quickly or jelly beans if exercising as I can suck on these.

However, if you're going low and are falling slowly then using alternative carbs to raise levels is another way of managing it, I will sometimes just have a piece of fruit, say an apple/banana which can bring me up safely.

The best solution is to manage situations where you know levels can drop quickly, so reducing your quick acting to stave off a sudden drop during exercise, small snack before exercise etc.

I also saw your comment about using a pen and needle, I was injecting prior to the pump and would inject when and were it suited me, it can be done discretely under a top without any attention, but anyone who thought it was squeamish, well that's their problem not mine, we take a life saving medication.

 

[Waterfall 888]

Fantastic advice! Really appreciate it.

 

[Tony337]

Hi
Bananas are good.
You oft see tennis players at wimbledon eating them between games.
The principal is the same.

Tony

 

[Waterfall 888]

Will try. Easy to eat on the go