Type 1 Running half Marathon

davetbarber

Newbie
Messages
2
Type of diabetes
Type 1
I'm looking for advice
about to run my first half marathon in 3 weeks
having issues with carb loading an insulin
do I carb load and take the amount of insulin required
do I need to take insulin with energy gels when i'm running
would love to hear from other runners and how you managed your control over the longer distance
 

catapillar

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,390
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
If you're 3 weeks pre half, you're kind leaving it a bit late to figure this out. You can only have 2 long runs left.

I don't carb load. But if you are carb loading immediately pre half then bolusing for it would be unwise. If you want to take insulin with a carb load then you should at least consider reducing your I:C ratio for it.

I don't use energy gels. But if you're taking energy gels to get blood sugar up or keep it up then taking insulin with it would be unwise because it will just result in a peak and drop.

I prefer to run first thing in the morning, with no insulin on board and with an un bolused for breakfast.

Do you test your blood sugar when running, or use a libre/cgm? Do you know how you feel when low or high? Personally, I find running high to feel pretty awful, it's like running though treacle, which is why I don't really want to carb load/use energy gels. But you might prefer to raise yourself into double figures to "run it off" and avoid hypoing during a run. It depends what works for you.

Doing a bit of testing and trial and error is really the only way to work it out.

Maybe have a look at the runsweet website too.
 

Type1Bri

Well-Known Member
Messages
881
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
Highs and lows
I'm looking for advice
about to run my first half marathon in 3 weeks
having issues with carb loading an insulin
do I carb load and take the amount of insulin required
do I need to take insulin with energy gels when i'm running
would love to hear from other runners and how you managed your control over the longer distance
Hi ya
Good luck on your first half, enjoy every second of it.
Hopefully this from my blog may help
https://type1bri.com/running-on-insulin
 

Type1Bri

Well-Known Member
Messages
881
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
Highs and lows
Thanks for advice
Do you ever take energy Gels ?
Blog was a good read with lots of helpful info
Yeah I use energy gels, check out my blog about royal parks half last year and the winter 10k last week