Monitoring BG while training?

[IZ THE LEG END]

Hi, I have just started training for my first 100K Ultra marathon not running until April 17. I started Insulin on Christmas eve so just getting used to the diet and trying to put myself on a LCHF diet.

I am 6 days into my training plan as of today. I noticed on Wednesday only on a 6km run that I was feeling terrible. Enevitably my sugars were 2.1, I corrected this immediately, but worked out from PRE and POST BG readings I am dropping approx. 1 mmol per km run. I measured this Thursday on 4km run and saw similar results however I increased my starting BG to 8.4 on completion I was 4.4... I am trying to trend my data to give me a better overall guide to not only increase my performance but take better control.

I have just completed a 6km run my bloods were as follows:

• PRE - 7.9 (I read on runsweet to aim for 7-9mmol before running - I know don't believe everything you read, but I'm just trialling at the minute)
• 1Km - 8.6 - Spurious reading? OR have I just over compensated trying to achieve my starting BG goal?
• 2Km - 6.7 - I had half of a 32g Snickers in an attempt to slow down the drop
• 3Km - 5.7 - I had the second half
• 4Km - 4.7 - I tried drinking 100ml of Orange Juice (10.7g Carb per 100ml)
• 5Km - 4.6 - I topped up with approx. 50ml of the above mentioned Orange juice...
• 6Km - 4.4 - Ecstatic with the difference in feeling between Wednesday and today...
• POST - 7.3 (1 Hour after) I finished the orange juice perhaps avoid this next time and opt for the water option!!!

Firstly, I am currently in Saudi Arabia for work and the orange juice is pretty much I seem to be able to get my hands on, the diet side of things is even more of a challenge out here. I cannot get any glucose gels etc. out here... once I am home I will be testing the same as above with these... Please don't judge on that fact I just overcoming the issues the best way available to me...

Has anybody done similar testing on themselves? Also I use the Accu-Chek mobile which for me is perfect no strips... But how do you "wash" your hands so to speak in my experience in the past sweaty hands can give the indication of low BG... Does anyone carry anything with them to wipe their finger during the run? Are alcohol wipes any good or does this again have a possibility of sabotaging results?

Any help or ideas would be amazing thank you

Thanks Izzy

 

[zicksi101]

That's a good start Izzy. You are doing the right thing when starting to exercise with diabetes, testing regularly.

I tend to test every 5k when I'm training because, while my hypo awareness is usually good, I find my early warning symptoms can be masked by running.

I don't carry wipes, however I do make sure the hand I'm testing on hasn't become sugar coated. The meter reading isn't necessarily perfect, but it is good enough. What I find is that, if I test on different hands after I've just washed them, I get slightly different results!

Absolutely no criticism on the fuel you choose to use here, it's very much a case of whatever works best for you.. My personal preference is jelly babies, only 5g of fast acting carbs per jelly baby, so I find that best for fuelling in small increments.

 

[IZ THE LEG END]

I tend to test every 5k when I'm training because, while my hypo awareness is usually good, I find my early warning symptoms can be masked by running.

I don't carry wipes, however I do make sure the hand I'm testing on hasn't become sugar coated. The meter reading isn't necessarily perfect, but it is good enough. What I find is that, if I test on different hands after I've just washed them, I get slightly different results!

Absolutely no criticism on the fuel you choose to use here, it's very much a case of whatever works best for you.. My personal preference is jelly babies, only 5g of fast acting carbs per jelly baby, so I find that best for fuelling in small increments.

I will reduce my testing once I become confident on my levels a little more, but definitely 5k is a nice number I'd be happy testing as frequent as that but for the time being I will stick with every km more for confidence than anything else...

I read and heard jelly babies are good I will try these when I return to the uk, some things are hard to come by here in Saudi, I will be bringing a big stash for me next trip that's for sure haha... Thanks for the tips much appreciated!

Izzy

 

[TorqPenderloin]

Do you have any way of getting help finding a cgm (company health insurance possibly)?

I think you're doing everything the way I would if it were me. Hopefully, you nail the low carb approach down. That should help with the blood sugar volatility

 

[IZ THE LEG END]

Do you have any way of getting help finding a cgm (company health insurance possibly)?

I think you're doing everything the way I would if it were me. Hopefully, you nail the low carb approach down. That should help with the blood sugar volatility

Thanks for the vote of confidence, much appreciated. I'm lost by your question however regarding cgm? Please excuse my ignorance it's probably self explanatory!!! Haha

 

[IZ THE LEG END]

@TorqPenderloin funny what a quick Google search tells you!!!

I don't think this is something I could readily use with my job. I work offshore and all electronic equipment on a drill floor has to meet some of the strictest of regulation for explosion proof for example but I am going to delve into this a little more a very interesting concept!!!

Thank you and apologies for the naivity (if that's even a word)

Izzy

 

[ElyDave]

I'm assuming you are still on MDI rather than pump?

What you've not stated there is any strategy for insulin management around exercise as well, if you are training for a 100km that will be one of the most important things you do to achieve success.

Tell us what you are doing and collectively we can provide some ideas, you can even take a quick look at my blog, and others, where I have outlined what I do personally. Testing about every 5km works for me as well and has little impact over an ultra as you can work it into your eat/drink/run/walk strategy easily.

I tried the accucheck mobile but found it both temperamental and inaccurate/variable i.e. compare that with another meter gave a wide variation and the accuchek itself with repeat testing gave a wide variation (including from hypo to not hypo).

CGM - could do under permit with a gas monitor, that's what I do with the pump.

 

[Bebo321]

Hi, I have just started training for my first 100K Ultra marathon not running until April 17. I started Insulin on Christmas eve so just getting used to the diet and trying to put myself on a LCHF diet.

I am 6 days into my training plan as of today. I noticed on Wednesday only on a 6km run that I was feeling terrible. Enevitably my sugars were 2.1, I corrected this immediately, but worked out from PRE and POST BG readings I am dropping approx. 1 mmol per km run. I measured this Thursday on 4km run and saw similar results however I increased my starting BG to 8.4 on completion I was 4.4... I am trying to trend my data to give me a better overall guide to not only increase my performance but take better control.

I have just completed a 6km run my bloods were as follows:

• PRE - 7.9 (I read on runsweet to aim for 7-9mmol before running - I know don't believe everything you read, but I'm just trialling at the minute)
• 1Km - 8.6 - Spurious reading? OR have I just over compensated trying to achieve my starting BG goal?
• 2Km - 6.7 - I had half of a 32g Snickers in an attempt to slow down the drop
• 3Km - 5.7 - I had the second half
• 4Km - 4.7 - I tried drinking 100ml of Orange Juice (10.7g Carb per 100ml)
• 5Km - 4.6 - I topped up with approx. 50ml of the above mentioned Orange juice...
• 6Km - 4.4 - Ecstatic with the difference in feeling between Wednesday and today...
• POST - 7.3 (1 Hour after) I finished the orange juice perhaps avoid this next time and opt for the water option!!!

Firstly, I am currently in Saudi Arabia for work and the orange juice is pretty much I seem to be able to get my hands on, the diet side of things is even more of a challenge out here. I cannot get any glucose gels etc. out here... once I am home I will be testing the same as above with these... Please don't judge on that fact I just overcoming the issues the best way available to me...

Has anybody done similar testing on themselves? Also I use the Accu-Chek mobile which for me is perfect no strips... But how do you "wash" your hands so to speak in my experience in the past sweaty hands can give the indication of low BG... Does anyone carry anything with them to wipe their finger during the run? Are alcohol wipes any good or does this again have a possibility of sabotaging results?

Any help or ideas would be amazing thank you

Thanks Izzy

Great start!
You're certainly up for a challenge aiming for a 100k Ultra so soon after diagnosis. All power to you!

Attached is a movie you might find useful. Also, if you haven't already, consider joining the Sporty Type 1's Team Blood Glucose Facebook group (www.teambloodglucose.com)

@ElyDave knows pretty much anything you could want to know about running and T1D - so do have a read of his blogs.

CGM - TeamBG recommend both Dexcom and the Abbott Libre.

Sounds like you're already doing a great job - @ElyDave is right though about needing more info regarding your current insulin regime in order to offer a bit more guidance.

 

[IZ THE LEG END]

I'm assuming you are still on MDI rather than pump?

What you've not stated there is any strategy for insulin management around exercise as well, if you are training for a 100km that will be one of the most important things you do to achieve success.

Tell us what you are doing and collectively we can provide some ideas, you can even take a quick look at my blog, and others, where I have outlined what I do personally. Testing about every 5km works for me as well and has little impact over an ultra as you can work it into your eat/drink/run/walk strategy easily.

I tried the accucheck mobile but found it both temperamental and inaccurate/variable i.e. compare that with another meter gave a wide variation and the accuchek itself with repeat testing gave a wide variation (including from hypo to not hypo).

CGM - could do under permit with a gas monitor, that's what I do with the pump.

Hi, thanks for taking the time to reply, I will definitely be taking a better look at the blog. I've had a quick glance but about to catch a flight home so I want to sit and digest the full thing properly looks interesting.

Yes, I am currently taking only basal am and pm and oral meds. I am due a review on my return to the UK tomorrow. I am hoping they will agree to a basal bolus regime.

At the moment I'm just testing myself against my meter and trying to make small adjustments on the move, I ran a half marathon in October and only stopped for water half way no other supplements. However I find things have changed dramatically and I struggled with 6KM!!!

I definitely need to do some more tease arch and testing against my training to find what works.

I'm new to the diabetes and new to the ultra scene but I will do it. I love a challenge and I like problem solving maybe this is a naive way to look at my training and strategy but I've entered this blind.

I have started testing at 1km as stated above, after the previous post stating 5km I braved 2km and again the juice helped in small amounts to stabilise my BG from dropping whilst running at a steady constant pace... Today is a rest day, I got 3 runs mid week and 2 at the weekend I am going to spread my testing out a little more as I gain the confidence also I believe if the doctor moves me to basal bolus regime I will have to start my learning again. And I believe I will have to establish a good insulin management but I haven't really gotten into it fully it's been 8 days now and like I say I am hoping to come away from oral meds over the next few days... A big learning curve approaching I think

I appreciate your time I will definitely have a good read of your blog...

Do you have a recommendation for a meter?

Thanks izzy apologies if I've just rambled rubbish too!!!

 

[IZ THE LEG END]

Great start!
You're certainly up for a challenge aiming for a 100k Ultra so soon after diagnosis. All power to you!

Attached is a movie you might find useful. Also, if you haven't already, consider joining the Sporty Type 1's Team Blood Glucose Facebook group (www.teambloodglucose.com)

@ElyDave knows pretty much anything you could want to know about running and T1D - so do have a read of his blogs.

CGM - TeamBG recommend both Dexcom and the Abbott Libre.

Sounds like you're already doing a great job - @ElyDave is right though about needing more info regarding your current insulin regime in order to offer a bit more guidance.

I will have a play of this when I get home tomorrow.

Thanks for the info much appreciated.

Sorry for the lack of info regarding the regimen as I'm just learning the control side for daily life as well as training.

If there is specific details you want regarding my regimen let me know and when I train tomorrow I will make a note when I finish and send it if that makes sense?

Thanks again for the time it's genuinely appreciated.

Thanks izzy

 

[Griffter15]

Hi, I have just started training for my first 100K Ultra marathon not running until April 17. I started Insulin on Christmas eve so just getting used to the diet and trying to put myself on a LCHF diet.

I am 6 days into my training plan as of today. I noticed on Wednesday only on a 6km run that I was feeling terrible. Enevitably my sugars were 2.1, I corrected this immediately, but worked out from PRE and POST BG readings I am dropping approx. 1 mmol per km run. I measured this Thursday on 4km run and saw similar results however I increased my starting BG to 8.4 on completion I was 4.4... I am trying to trend my data to give me a better overall guide to not only increase my performance but take better control.

I have just completed a 6km run my bloods were as follows:

• PRE - 7.9 (I read on runsweet to aim for 7-9mmol before running - I know don't believe everything you read, but I'm just trialling at the minute)
• 1Km - 8.6 - Spurious reading? OR have I just over compensated trying to achieve my starting BG goal?
• 2Km - 6.7 - I had half of a 32g Snickers in an attempt to slow down the drop
• 3Km - 5.7 - I had the second half
• 4Km - 4.7 - I tried drinking 100ml of Orange Juice (10.7g Carb per 100ml)
• 5Km - 4.6 - I topped up with approx. 50ml of the above mentioned Orange juice...
• 6Km - 4.4 - Ecstatic with the difference in feeling between Wednesday and today...
• POST - 7.3 (1 Hour after) I finished the orange juice perhaps avoid this next time and opt for the water option!!!

Firstly, I am currently in Saudi Arabia for work and the orange juice is pretty much I seem to be able to get my hands on, the diet side of things is even more of a challenge out here. I cannot get any glucose gels etc. out here... once I am home I will be testing the same as above with these... Please don't judge on that fact I just overcoming the issues the best way available to me...

Has anybody done similar testing on themselves? Also I use the Accu-Chek mobile which for me is perfect no strips... But how do you "wash" your hands so to speak in my experience in the past sweaty hands can give the indication of low BG... Does anyone carry anything with them to wipe their finger during the run? Are alcohol wipes any good or does this again have a possibility of sabotaging results?

Any help or ideas would be amazing thank you

Thanks Izzy

Hi,

This may or may not be relevant to you...

I used to often get falling blood glucose levels like you describe, but it didn't happen all the time. I always wait at least 4 hours after bolusing before exercising. I figured out it was due to my lantus injection which I take into my thigh. This would normally take 7 hours to absorb, but exercising using the thighs can accelerate this (dramatically in my case).

Unfortunately it creates a few restrictions as to when I can exercise. I starter to run in the mornings when fasting then take my lantus after my run. But I noticed my glucose levels increasing as my lantus wasn't lasting the full 24hours and my liver was busy pumping glucose into my system.

Finally after many years I seem to have found the right balance. I split my dose between morning (post run) and evening. This seems to keep me steady over night and when on a run. Provided my sugar levels are stable I don't generally need to refuel until about 6 or 7 miles at which point I have a jelly sweet (10g). I generally don't test on my runs and find 9 out of 10 times my post run test is between 5 and 9 which is ok for me.

I tend not to do more than 10 miles but when I have done I noticed the liver tends to run out of glycogen stores and then I have to refuel often.

I've been running in a fasting state. for some time so it's possible that I've undergone some physiological changes to burn more fat than glucose as a fuel.

I hope that's of some use to you and good luck with your training