Raised average blood sugar after exercise.

[Juliarolo]

really puzzled. I’m T2. After a period of a year with little exercise due to a head injury my average bs had raised from 7 to 8. I commenced serious efforts to exercise and walk more expecting it to reduce. Instead it rose even higher to 9 and I was groggy and lethargic with a fasting bs of 15 mmol when tested at the drs. My diet is good and now I’ve had to substantially increase my meds and go v low carb in an effort to reduce the bs. This has worked but why would my levels have bucked the expected trend so much.

 

[There is no Spoon]

This has worked but why would my levels have bucked the expected trend so much.

Hi Julia,
Everybody expects exercise to lower blood sugar instantly but that's not the case.

Exercise can more often than not raise your blood sugar "at that moment in time". Through exercise muscles become less Insulin Resistant and over time this lowers blood sugar. So although you might find when you exercise "just now" your blood sugar level rises it should have the effect of lowering your blood sugar levels in the long run as your burning of the raised sugar in the blood stream.

I know the thought of raised blood sugar is bad but not in this case, it means your body is breaking down fat stores to supply the energy from sugar to your muscles.

Which means weight loss.

 

[Nexus6]

Rode my bike home from work yesterday...about 10km...some of it quite strenuous/uphill etc.

Left work with BS at around 5.1....check later on (no eating etc in between) and BS was around 7. Stayed for a while then dropped back down.

 

[Juliarolo]

Hi Julia,
Everybody expects exercise to lower blood sugar instantly but that's not the case.

Exercise can more often than not raise your blood sugar "at that moment in time". Through exercise muscles become less Insulin Resistant and over time this lowers blood sugar. So although you might find when you exercise "just now" your blood sugar level rises it should have the effect of lowering your blood sugar levels in the long run as your burning of the raised sugar in the blood stream.

I know the thought of raised blood sugar is bad but not in this case, it means your body is breaking down fat stores to supply the energy from sugar to your muscles.

Which means weight loss.

I get the bs raises as glycogen is released. What I don’t get is my HbA1c is rising when it should hopefully reduce. Yes I am losing weight steadily which can only be good. And my energy levels are up.
When I was diagnosed I was atypical T2 , skinny and v active. Since diagnosis I’ve put on weight and really have struggled to lose it. Not helped by a head injury that greatly reduced my activities until start of the year. I now die active gym sessions 4-6 times a week and walk 3-4 km a day.. eat low carb diet and still my HbA1c rises. I’m comcerned I’m no ordinary T2 and my pancreas is being hammered by the meds.

 

[ickihun]

Hi @Juliarolo.
I never get the bg benefits of exercise, however I do get less insulin resistance after a month or so or constant daily increased movement/exercise.
For instant relief to increased bg from exercise try a low carb nibble before the exercise. Mine increases due to stress of the exercise. After a month or so of this expected exercise it should levitate stress on your body and start becoming more beneficial.
A nibble of cheese or nuts before the activity can block your liver from dumping just after exercise. Keeping your hba1c much lower.
Let me know how your tweak changes things around.

 

[ickihun]

I get the bs raises as glycogen is released. What I don’t get is my HbA1c is rising when it should hopefully reduce. Yes I am losing weight steadily which can only be good. And my energy levels are up.
When I was diagnosed I was atypical T2 , skinny and v active. Since diagnosis I’ve put on weight and really have struggled to lose it. Not helped by a head injury that greatly reduced my activities until start of the year. I now die active gym sessions 4-6 times a week and walk 3-4 km a day.. eat low carb diet and still my HbA1c rises. I’m comcerned I’m no ordinary T2 and my pancreas is being hammered by the meds.

Other meds can be sugar coated, ibuprofen for example. Or weigh gainers like gliclizide. Added weight causes more insulin resistance, hence most type2s create more insulin which then requires more liver glucose which output is in the most unopportune times (3-4am) called the dawn phenomenon.
The liver and muscles dump glucose into our blood.
Less muscle mass equals less muscle glucose.

 

[There is no Spoon]

I’m comcerned I’m no ordinary T2 and my pancreas is being hammered by the meds.

Sorry Julia can't help with the meds.

But if you let us know which meds and how often, then I'm sure some one more knowledgeable than me, will be along to help with that side of things.

My diet is good and now I’ve had to substantially increase my meds and go v low carb in an effort to reduce the bs.

I do agree with you this does seem to be the opposite of most peoples stories when going low carb.