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Lifestyle changes and the reprecussions

notsoslenderman

Member
Messages
6
Type of diabetes
Type 1
I'm a 25 year type 1 veteran. Currently on Lantus and Novo-Rapid. I have reasonable control and good HBA1c but it is, as is common, flattered by low blood sugars, meaning I have highs as well, so quite spikey I guess. I have previously attended a "Skills for Life Course" 6 or so years ago and have a reasonable grasp of the basal/bolus theory. Don't carb count as well as I could and I have never signed up to being a gold star diabetic


However,
 
Thanks urbanracer, just scrap in with a bronze I reckon. Will add the full post now as hit enter by mistake!!

I'm a 25 year type 1 veteran. Currently on Lantus and Novo-Rapid. I have reasonable control and good HBA1c but it is, as is common, flattered by low blood sugars, meaning I have highs as well, so quite spikey I guess. I have previously attended a "Skills for Life Course" 6 or so years ago and have a reasonable grasp of the basal/bolus theory. Don't carb count as well as I could and I have never signed up to being a gold star diabetic. I guess for most of this time I've relied on a consistent relatively sedate lifestyle in fear of hypos.

However, I am now in my forties with a very active 4 year old who needs a Dad who can run further than his own shadow!! With that in mind I have committed to doing a Spartan Trifecta and I am now undertaking the training to compete (when I say compete I mean attend and finish). I am now doing an hour 4 times a week of HIIT plus cycling a little and swimming. Coupled with that I am loosely following the caveman diet (low card, high protein, no processed food like bread et al)

This sudden change has as you imagine impacted on insulin requirements and has made for some crazy night time hypos, which are not waking me. I have on a couple of occasions woken and been very aggressive, barking like a dog, hitting myself etc. For my partner and my son who have never witnessed me like this before it is very scary.

In order to meet the challenge I have set for myself and to save my relationship I would like to know if there is anyone who is type 1 and has been through a lifestyle change like this. How did you manage it? What extra tools did you include? Just any advice would be gratefully received.

I have seen loads of posts on CBM's but the price is shocking, the hypo band which looks good for the night time hypo, but is it any good in reality? Books like "Think like a Pancreas" and "Sugar Surfing" have been mentioned, is there anything else related to exercise worth reading.

Any who enough from me and sorry if I'm rambling, BM ok right now BTW.
 
The lifestyle change and the type 1 happened at the same time for me as I was only diagnosed last year (27 years old).

In the last 7 months since diagnosis it's been about consistency....I've been consistent so I can eventually become inconsistent.

To explain that, at first, it was about learning to carb count the same foods, learning how the same types of exercise would affect me, and learning to achieve excellent control doing the same things over and over again. Obviously, that's not sustainable, but the idea was that I'd rather be excellent at the same routine, than be "okay" at managing multiple routines.

Eventually, I felt comfortable enough to add things back like drinking alcohol (although I probably drink 1-2 glasses of wine a month, at most). I don't have to stop during a run or workout and test my blood sugar (although my CGM does help with that), and I didn't feel overwhelmed when I had to count about the ~300g of carbs I ate during my cousin's wedding last month.

I guess the short answer is to start slow and perfect one thing at a time rather than try to fix everything at once. Obviously, that's easy for me to say as I've only been diagnosed for 7 months and you've been diagnosed for 25 years. Just sharing my approach as a newbie who had to make some pretty big changes last year.
 
Thanks, it makes sense. For work I would advise someone to change one aspect of their business at a time, otherwise they can't understand the impact of what they have changed if they do to many things at once.

The night time hypo I guess is the issue in front right now and working back from there.
 

Very scary for them and of course you too.

It sounds like you need to reduce your basal dose, by rights if your basal insulin is set at the right dose your fasting bg levels shouldn't fluctuate by more than 1.6mmol/l

The book you mentioned earlier (Think Like a Pancreas) has a great chapter on basal insulin and basal testing, definitely worth purchasing if you've not done so already.

Good luck with your lifestyle changes.
 
Hello

I get what your saying because I'm struggling with change at the moment. For me it's sport I love working out but it's hard for me particularly a night.

i can only say what I've done. I'm keeping a record and noticing what times are best for me in the day for the after affect so I can catch it. I'm also after exercise taking 20% of my carb tea I.e if it was 20 carbs I'd put in 16. However I'm aware I'm on a pump so different. I'm finding first thing is easier and I'm experimenting with how many days I can do and doing what seems to give an affect.

I do not know if you have spare time with a little one to record or even if it's your bag. I also am finding that looking at my background rate as its a pain you get it to a good balance rate then it changes again after exercising grrr!!!

Oh and also I'm using a g I diet concepts with my carb counting. For example if I finish exercising and I'm 8 I might like a medium releasing gi food like pasta so it's longer to get to the blood system but not long enough for a hypo. If I want to have some low g I for example I came back at 14 b s I'll eat nuts because it takes longer to get to the system.

I maybe rambling and no idea if it helps but all I can say is keep experimenting on one element you want to change and you will get there
 
Yeah, from everything Ive looked at it is the basal dose that is key, however the it s also impacted by the type of exercise and when it was.

Carbs and Cals, is that a book?
 
notsoslenderman said:
Yeah, from everything Ive looked at it is the basal dose that is key, however the it s also impacted by the type of exercise and when it was.

Carbs and Cals, is that a book?
Click to expand...

Yes, Carbs and Cals is a book and app, available in various places, including here: http://www.carbsandcals.com/

It gives indicative carbs and cals values for various foodstuffs, and includes various portion sizes. The book, allegedly, is more comprehensive than the app, although the app is more convenient for many as you can have it around more than you might carry a book.
 
Thanks, will add that to my reading list. I need to make time to keep a diary, I find apps a little fiddly and with "sausage fingers" as my son puts it I seem to be always deleting and typing. I might stay old school on that one.

Anyone come across a well formatted diary that includes notes on exercise?

Also would love any feedback on the hypo band if anyone has any.
 
Yeh carbs and cals you don't have to read. It has Picyures of different foods, grams so you can put in the carbs according the amount you have. I find it personally soo valuable. I know what you mean with sausage fingers lol the app doesn't require a lot of typing though
 
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