Type 1 & Gym

Bernstein believes in exercise with weights. Try reading the book.

I have a child and can only tell you that the effects of exercise can occur for 24 hours. I imagine going to the gym is your usual routine so you will work out what suits you soon enough. I am always cautious to do the 2am check if my child has had a big day even if his 10pm bgl is ok. I don't really believe in over doing the testing. I would hate for my son's fingers to start looking like a teabag but regular testing is very important. I have also noticed that sometimes after a lot of exercise his bsl goes up for a period of time (maybe a little dehydrated) but I tend not to correct this and wait until he is more settled and had a drink.

You have to think about the sports people out there that manage having diabetes just fine. You might have a few hiccups now and again but you will get to know how your body works. I hope you carry identification on you and let your gym know you're now diabetic.

If you have a long drive home from the gym you might give yourself a test before you leave or have a little snack. Having a snack before you exercise would also be good and keep yourself hydrated.

You'll find lots of things can affect your bsl's but as you learn to predict these it gets a lot easier to keep steadier levels even at some of the worst times (for me that is when my son is sick).

All the best

Hi Tony,

T1 diagnosis is a bummer to say the least, but it sounds like you're grabbing the bull by the horns. Good on ya.
Weight and cardio are a great idea and will benefit you in lots of ways. My advice would be that a blood sugar of 9 is too high at any time. If you start intensive exercise at that level a few hours after your last insulin dose, your blood sugar will probably rise rather than fall. The stress hormones released due to intense exercise will signal your liver to release glucose and you won't have the insulin in your system to combat it.
Also, be careful when you inject fast acting insulin to cover your meal afterwards. The insulin receptors in your muscles will be perky after your workout and will make the insulin work more efficiently. There's a risk that your blood sugar might drop too low.

All the best,

fergus

Hi

Sorry to have you join us! When I was first diagnosed I was told to first try 15 mins and then build up so that I could make a note of how the exercise affected me. Different types will have different affects. Officially you should not exercise over 13 or 14 mmol (depending on what advise you follow) Fergus is a testiment to us all and managed to keep his BG in a tiught range - I still wake up wil high levels (dawn effect - something you will perhaps come across as you investigate this all further) so my levels are sometimes above 9 before exercise and I am fine.

You will possibly rise during exercise and what you do need to watch out for is the drop that will happen later as your insulin works more effectively. as state above it can happen at any time and you will learn when it is more likely to happen to you. I exercise at 7.30 am and I will tend to drop at about 3 but if I exercise in the evening I will drop that evening. Whilst you are learning how thios is going to work for yopu I would test often and make notes to identify the commone trends.

Good to see you are going for it straight away though - it will help a lot in the long run.

Louise

Hi Tony,

Good on you getting straight down to it! I use the gym 4-5 times a week and play football/cricket in the evenings. I agree with the numbers you've suggested - depending on your last insulin injection (see bottom paragraph).

Some advice I was given when first diagnosed is to have a snack before the gym and take slightly less insulin than would be normally required to cover it. By doing this, your blood sugar is elevated slightly before you exercise, then drops to a normal value post-exercise. For example: I eat a peanut butter + jam sandwich and a banana before the gym. Normally this would be 8 units of Novorapid. I inject 6u, which allows for the drop during exercise. I exercise for only 30-40 minutes, so you may need a larger discrepency, or alternatively, take an isotonic drink with you. I take Lucozade sport or Powerade for football/cricket matches as they last a lot longer than 30 mins.

The danger (as already pointed out) is if you start with elevate bn level and it is some hours since your last insulin injection, that level will go higher... I've found that out the hard way. And if your bn level is fairly normal to low before exercise it's only going to go lower. By having a small meal about 1 hr before exercise and injecting, that insulin is used during the exercise to use the carbs and give you energy. I never exercise now without having a small meal 1-1.5 hrs before.

Hope that helps - feel free to message me.
Sam.

Ok heres my take on it.

I sometimes train due to my job for up to 5/6 hours which can include a lot of strength work after sessions like this sugar levels are around 22+

Today a did a work out cardio wise for an hour just to give an instance of sugar level effects post training.

AM sugar level 7.8
Before training sugar level 12.1

Training included
600+ skips in 5 mins.
6 x 1min speedball workout 1/2 min rest between.
Heavy bag workout 5 x 1 min rounds. 1/2 min rest between. Including elbows, punches & aerobic exercise - jumping knees 10 of each side each round.
20 power kicks each leg.
40 weighted squats.
40 narrow press ups.
20 power bag lifts and bag raises above head ( 40 kl kick bag)
150 lifted knee crunch sit ups.

All took in total about 35-40 mins

Just got over a chest infection (3rd this year !) so it was a good excuse to burn some energy after a few weeks off.

Sugar level post training 5.2

So cardio takes mine down, strength work sends mine up, especially long sessions.

I know I'm not that fit at the moment, but will get better throughout the year, however food and insulin is a very personal thing, mentioned on my previous post on this duplicate thread on the other forum (ask the experts).

You can only check yourself, as to what happens with your body as stated here we all have different experiences. If I was planning a long cardio I would want my sugar levels around 15-16 before I start, strength work I again run sugar levels high as I cannot afford a low in these situations.

ATB

Tony, checking regularly as you suggest is the way to go. I used to find I went low after only 20 minutes aerobic exercise but that I then only needed 1 dextrose to fuel me for another half hour.
Personally I do not like to start with higher glucose levels, and actually it doesn't for me seem to make a big difference, if they are higher to start with they just fall quicker. we are all very different and I found when on MDI I needed to have tiny amounts of dextrose regularly. I managed to complete a 5 hour marathon doing that.
I would also be very careful about starting exercise with a level above 13.5. If your level is that high you should check for ketones and not exercise if they are present. (If the high is caused by insufficient insulin then your levels are likely to rise not fall and if ketones are present this could potentially be dangerous)

Hi Tony
I was only diagnosed type 1 6 weeks ago and it is sooo much to learn!
I went back to the gym a few weeks ago and started at 30 mins and built up fro there. I have a decent meal and less insulin and if blood too low before I go in I have a piece of fruit too and I've been fine. I've gone in wth blood betwwen 9 and 11 and blood been back down to 5- 6 afterwards so seems to be fine! I've found running drops blood quicker. My diabetic specialist this week said I should aim for BG level between 10 and 11 before exercise.
Good luck!!
Cath

Cath - well done! Sounds like you've got your gym routine sorted very quickly.

Aah thanx Shedges! Must admit I'm pleased as was ill before diagnosis (obviously!!) and worried normal life was over! I'm very stubborn and determined to beat this thing. Very paranoid at hypos to start with but getting more confidence now
Cath

Hi

have a look at www.runsweet.com - this is the web site run by Dr Ian Gallen - he is the doc who looked after steve redgrave and in my humble opinion one of the best doctors in the UK.

Search the site and there is some useful info on there about bs levels and exercise .

There will be alot of trial and error and alot of bs but you can get there - I will be watching the London Marathon on sunday as I have been working with 2 type 1 who are running.

Gr8 post ally!!
I'll be looking at that as sounds good, I'm registered for the Gr8 sth run for the 3rd year running this yr and determined not to have to cance due to type 1 so inspirational post too!!

yes go for it - and if you need help ask your dietitian to refer you to a sports dietitian.

Let me know how you get on. I will be glued to tv on sunday and waiting for times .