Type 2 Triathlons and Diabetes

Hi @MDHalstead and welcome to the forum!

I'm not an endurance athlete and so far in my exercise 'career' I've not done anything longer than a 5km and as such haven't needed fuel at all. Sorry I can't offer any advice on gels - I just run with a small pot of glucose tablets stuffed in my sports bra and haven't yet needed to dive into them!

Slight tangent here but I posted this thread earlier - http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/fantastic-opportunity-for-keen-exercisers.105546/ - when I went along to their last such event in May, as a newbie runner, I learned so much. The 50 participants ranged from hobby runners like me to ironman triathletes and ultrarunners.

You might find it a useful (and fun!) experience.

Hi, since getting diagnosed back in March with T1, I have run 2 marathons, gels are a great source to boost levels, especially on the first marathon, I found my levels dropped quite rapidly around miles 10 and 22.

Just be careful with amount of insulin you inject before

10km is my limit so never had to use any gels, etc but just wanted to say anyone who participates in a Triathlon has my utmost respect!

MDHalstead said:

Thanks.

I am working towards standard.
Just want to make sure I refuel properly.

Click to expand...

Hi MD,
I am T2 (now Reversed) and started where you are 6 years ago with Sprints.

I finally stopped taking the last of my DB drugs 6 months ago and now have an HbA1c of 34 and I am currently training for Ironman Wales!

During racing you should use what you are used to and I have used SIS gels and Hi 5 Gels in races, however the breakthrough for me has been Low Carb, Medium Protein, High Fat diet which has enabled me to "Reverse" my Diabetes.

Check out Dr Maffetone and The "Faster" study by Peter Defty along with the Optimising Nutrition site.

Good luck with your Triathlon ambitions you will not regret getting into this wonderful sport, do some research and make up your own mind but in my own case cutting the carbs from my daily diet helped beat my Diabetes.