Sugar levels rising after moderate walking around the park

[mmohan]

I recently started morning walks. I walk around the park at medium pace without eating or drinking anything at all. I noticed that before my walk my sugar levels are around 4.7 but strangely after completing around 8000 steps (takes me 1¼ hours to do this) my sugar levels rise to 12.1. I thought this is a one off but this happens constantly every time I do these walks. I'm confused, walking should be good for me and burn my sugar levels, but the opposite is happening! I wonder if anyone else has this problem and why this is happening?

 

[Chris24Main]

Hi @mmohan - the simple version of a really complicated answer is that your liver is capable of producing lots of glucose, and not just from current meals. Your body is basically sensing a need for more energy and providing it in the way it's most used to.
This seems to be confusing, but you should find that your blood levels go down again quickly (worth measuring to make sure), and unless you are feeling unwell, your walking should be only a good thing.

 

[Outlier]

My BG always rises after exercise.

 

[Rachox]

I recently started morning walks. I walk around the park at medium pace without eating or drinking anything at all. I noticed that before my walk my sugar levels are around 4.7 but strangely after completing around 8000 steps (takes me 1¼ hours to do this) my sugar levels rise to 12.1. I thought this is a one off but this happens constantly every time I do these walks. I'm confused, walking should be good for me and burn my sugar levels, but the opposite is happening! I wonder if anyone else has this problem and why this is happening?

I find I need to eat soon after getting up in the mornings before doing much but especially exercise. Just a low carb breakfast will be enough to tell my liver not to chuck out glucose to fuel me for the morning. This stops a rise in blood sugar levels that I’m not comfortable with.

 

[JoKalsbeek]

I recently started morning walks. I walk around the park at medium pace without eating or drinking anything at all. I noticed that before my walk my sugar levels are around 4.7 but strangely after completing around 8000 steps (takes me 1¼ hours to do this) my sugar levels rise to 12.1. I thought this is a one off but this happens constantly every time I do these walks. I'm confused, walking should be good for me and burn my sugar levels, but the opposite is happening! I wonder if anyone else has this problem and why this is happening?

I'm with @Rachox : my Dawn Phenomenon (the liver dumping glucose) will merrily continue until I eat, and if I do some walking, it'll just keep rising. The liver thinks it's being helpful, when it's not. If you're going for a walk, maybe have some nuts or cheese beforehand, so your liver knows to take it easier.

 

[KennyA]

Agree with the above. Your liver detects that you're exercising, helpfully provides fuel from stores....that's probably what you're seeing. You are using stored glucose, that's why the levels are up. Interesting to see what your level is 30 mins after you finish your walk.

I find that my levels zoom during strenuous exercise, which is a good thing as that's when I need the fuel, and drop back really quickly when I finish. Nothing to do with food, all down to my liver, which is much better behaved than it used to be.

 

[OrsonKartt]

I recently started morning walks. I walk around the park at medium pace without eating or drinking anything at all. I noticed that before my walk my sugar levels are around 4.7 but strangely after completing around 8000 steps (takes me 1¼ hours to do this) my sugar levels rise to 12.1. I thought this is a one off but this happens constantly every time I do these walks. I'm confused, walking should be good for me and burn my sugar levels, but the opposite is happening! I wonder if anyone else has this problem and why this is happening?

You could try a Handful of macadamia nuts before you walk. It worked for me this morning.

Fingers crossed it works for you too as we are all different and sometimes things don’t stay the same

 

[mmohan]

Thanks for these replies. That makes sense now

 

[VashtiB]

I recently started morning walks. I walk around the park at medium pace without eating or drinking anything at all. I noticed that before my walk my sugar levels are around 4.7 but strangely after completing around 8000 steps (takes me 1¼ hours to do this) my sugar levels rise to 12.1. I thought this is a one off but this happens constantly every time I do these walks. I'm confused, walking should be good for me and burn my sugar levels, but the opposite is happening! I wonder if anyone else has this problem and why this is happening?

I walk a similar amount every morning and have the same effect. I do not like it either. I tend to eat afterwards as my mornings are used and I don't have time before. It's frustrating so my sympathies.

 

[Chris24Main]

Physical activity is beneficial period. @Jennifer Harper thanks for your input, but you should be aware that nobody is arguing against that; it's a question of trying to understand (usually in the context of wearing a continuous glucose monitor) why one's blood glucose might be going UP during and after that exercise, when one's instinctive thought is that the exercise - requiring energy - should be making it go down.

~short version~ the liver is more complex than we tend to give it credit.

 

[Melgar]

@mmohan it is disconcerting to see your blood sugars rise when being active. I agree with everyone else here, your liver is simply responding to your body’s energy requirement.