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Newbee to Forum looking for advice on exercise/dose adjustment.

J

Joah

Active Member
Messages
42
Location
Dublin, Ireland
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi! Ive only recently discovered this forum. Looks like just what I need right now! I have been trying to tighten up my control this summer and have gotten to the stage where I have been able to reduce my morning background insulin down to 4iu (Lantus) and have reduced my quick acting (Novorapid) down to 4ius also. I have been working out at the gym but am finding I still need to take extra glucose during my workout. Ive also reduced my evening dose of quick acting but not my Lantus dose. I think I may need to reduce more. Has anyone advise regarding this? I also have had hypos in the evening on days when I dont workout. Getting a bit annoyed with myself. Ive had diabetes for over 30 years so feel I should know better.
 
It may be possible to fine tune your bolus/basal insulin to allow you to take minimal or even zero carbohydrates whilst exercising.

A word of warning though, you will have to be exercising at the same intensity/duration every single day if you choose this route. If you have a day off exercise then you'll more than likely end up with high blood sugars as we normally require more insulin when less active and less insulin when more active.

It's easier, for me anyway, to always take insulin quantities that keep me steady over a normal day without exercise. When I do choose to exercise, I take carb based drinks throughout the duration. I don't exercise regularly so this is the best and easiest approach for me.

If you're exercising more than you're not, then you may find it beneficial to have your basal/bolus quantities based around a typical day with exercise and up your insulin to a level that works on your days off.

Regards,
Grant
 
GrantGam1337 said:
It may be possible to fine tune your bolus/basal insulin to allow you to take minimal or even zero carbohydrates whilst exercising.

A word of warning though, you will have to be exercising at the same intensity/duration every single day if you choose this route. If you have a day off exercise then you'll more than likely end up with high blood sugars as we normally require more insulin when less active and less insulin when more active.

It's easier, for me anyway, to always take insulin quantities that keep me steady over a normal day without exercise. When I do choose to exercise, I take carb based drinks throughout the duration. I don't exercise regularly so this is the best and easiest approach for me.

If you're exercising more than you're not, then you may find it beneficial to have your basal/bolus quantities based around a typical day with exercise and up your insulin to a level that works on your days off.

Regards,
Grant
Click to expand...
Hi Grant, Thank you for responding so quickly. I do not work out every day, usually if I can manage 3 times a week I'm doing well. I've been having issues with getting the balance right for normal days too which can be a total downer. I'm always in awe of those who can manage both (exercise and normal days).
 
Joah said:
Hi Grant, Thank you for responding so quickly. I do not work out every day, usually if I can manage 3 times a week I'm doing well. I've been having issues with getting the balance right for normal days too which can be a total downer. I'm always in awe of those who can manage both (exercise and normal days).
Click to expand...
That's no problem:)

Have you tried basal testing before? It's basically a series of short fasts in order to find tune you basal (long acting) insulin needs. It's the best place to start when it comes to insulin dosage.

https://mysugr.com/basal-rate-testing/

If you feel that this is going to prove too awkward (like I did), you could always try the Freestyle Libre system to give you a good picture of what's happening with your blood sugar.

The sensors are roughly £50 each after VAT relief and last 2 weeks. There is now no need to purchase the reader as there is now an app (LibreLink) which works on most smartphones. 2 weeks worth of graphs from the sensor will provide you with enough data to get things smoother and better controlled. It's not cheap but such a great tool, I would have never managed without one.

But as for your situation with exercise, I'd stick with the extra glucose when working out. It's what most of us do anyway. I like to use the dissolvable stuff in my water bottle and as I'm drinking water to keep my hydrated it's not like I'm going out my way to take these carbohydrates onboard.

Grant
 
The number one thing for me is to distance the time between the gym and my last bolus as much as possible. For me, that means I have to exercise either first thing in the morning or on the way home from my office before dinner.

It's a very frustrating situation, but you have to realize that if you're new to the gym you can't just pull from your 30 years of experience and expect to master things overnight. For me, it's completely different from the rest of my life.

Many of us find that our insulin sensitivity remains even on the days we don't workout as long as we exercise regularly throughout the rest of the week. While I'm not a scientist, my best understanding is that the situation is directly related to how much glycogen (stored glucose) I have in my body. By keeping my glycogen levels only partially full I'm able to easily make it through a 1-1.5hour workout but not full enough to a point where the glucose in my blood has nowhere to go. If I take too many days off from the gym (in a row) my glycogen levels fill up which eventually means that glucose in my blood has nowhere to go except stay in my blood stream (hyperglycemia) or get sorted as fat.

That's a bit of a tangent, but the point is to say that try to be consistent with working out throughout the weeks and months rather than going to the gym 4 days in a row and then taking 3 days off. Try to space your injections and gym time apart as much as possible. Even though your insulin needs are very low compared to other people that doesn't mean they're too low for YOU. If you're still having hypos then it may be time to reduce your insulin a bit further.


Sent from my iPad using DCUK Forum
 
TorqPenderloin said:
The number one thing for me is to distance the time between the gym and my last bolus as much as possible. For me, that means I have to exercise either first thing in the morning or on the way home from my office before dinner.

It's a very frustrating situation, but you have to realize that if you're new to the gym you can't just pull from your 30 years of experience and expect to master things overnight. For me, it's completely different from the rest of my life.

Many of us find that our insulin sensitivity remains even on the days we don't workout as long as we exercise regularly throughout the rest of the week. While I'm not a scientist, my best understanding is that the situation is directly related to how much glycogen (stored glucose) I have in my body. By keeping my glycogen levels only partially full I'm able to easily make it through a 1-1.5hour workout but not full enough to a point where the glucose in my blood has nowhere to go. If I take too many days off from the gym (in a row) my glycogen levels fill up which eventually means that glucose in my blood has nowhere to go except stay in my blood stream (hyperglycemia) or get sorted as fat.

That's a bit of a tangent, but the point is to say that try to be consistent with working out throughout the weeks and months rather than going to the gym 4 days in a row and then taking 3 days off. Try to space your injections and gym time apart as much as possible. Even though your insulin needs are very low compared to other people that doesn't mean they're too low for YOU. If you're still having hypos then it may be time to reduce your insulin a bit further.


Sent from my iPad using DCUK Forum
Click to expand...
 
GrantGam1337 said:
That's no problem:)

Have you tried basal testing before? It's basically a series of short fasts in order to find tune you basal (long acting) insulin needs. It's the best place to start when it comes to insulin dosage.

https://mysugr.com/basal-rate-testing/

If you feel that this is going to prove too awkward (like I did), you could always try the Freestyle Libre system to give you a good picture of what's happening with your blood sugar.

The sensors are roughly £50 each after VAT relief and last 2 weeks. There is now no need to purchase the reader as there is now an app (LibreLink) which works on most smartphones. 2 weeks worth of graphs from the sensor will provide you with enough data to get things smoother and better controlled. It's not cheap but such a great tool, I would have never managed without one.

But as for your situation with exercise, I'd stick with the extra glucose when working out. It's what most of us do anyway. I like to use the dissolvable stuff in my water bottle and as I'm drinking water to keep my hydrated it's not like I'm going out my way to take these carbohydrates onboard.

Grant
Click to expand...
 
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