• Guest, the forum is undergoing some upgrades and so the usual themes will be unavailable for a few days. In the meantime, you can use the forum like normal. We'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Type II, Endurance Exercise and getting the calories in

P

Polo_Minted

Newbie
Hi,

This may have been asked before, so feel free to send me a link if needed...

Anyway, I'm type II was diagnosed 10 years ago and have had very good control on 2x 500mg metformin. I've been running and walking for a challenge for the last 8 months and as part of this I'm training for my 1st marathon (Edinburgh in May).

I'm not a fast runner, I was born with a complex heart defect so fast is a bit of a no-no, but I do sweat a lot and obviously need to get some carbs inside of me. I've hunted for low carn drinks, but the likes of hydro-active haven't got enough sugars in them to avoid thigh bonk, and its seems the normal sporty powerade is jacking my BG up - 9.7% was the results of the blood test.

The practice nurse has done what the book says, and immediately put me up to 3x850mg... But admits none of her other diabetic patients are doing my sort of exercise... Diabetes UK offered to send me a leaflet on starting an exercise programme... and a link to a website that concentrates on Type 1 and exercise.

So, anyone got any experience they can share?

Cheers

Paul
http://walkingforheartkids.blogspot.com/
 
Hi,
My situation is similar in that I am a slow plodder but different to yours as I use insulin . I also don't like to use the higher carb energy drinks (except at about 22 miles when it doesn't seem to matter!) I do drip feed with glucose tablets as I can closely monitor the amount I use. Alternatively on hot days in summer (I live considerably South of Edinburgh) I make up my own drink with diluted orange juice and a pinch of salt. You can experiment with the amount of orange juice/water.
There are a lot of articles by Sheri Colberg, an expert on diabetes and exercise listed here; perhaps there may be something of use. She also has a facility for asking individual questions that might be more useful.
http://www.shericolberg.com/articles-resources.asp
Good luck, it's a long way but a fantastic sense of achievement when you finish :D
 
Great thread - It was one of my main questions when being diagnosed about a month ago. While addmittidly not exercising regularly I do enjoy long walks. Having suffered from Bad cramp when younger I always found that one of the sports drinks after or during really helped.

Going up Pen-Y-Fan in a few weeks I was quite concerned about how best to handle this...... I think I will try one of those hydro drinks in my camel back (so a 1/3 ratio of that and sugar free squash) and test as soon as I get down - unless someone has a better recomendation?
 
Hi - enjoy Pen y Fan - I walk it quite often as it is only an hours drive from home!

You need to do more testing before and if possible at the top as well.

Make sure you have around 30-40g Carbs 2 hours before - ie breakfast and test about half an hour before you start then you can decide if you need to have some carb pre walk. Pen y fan is strenuous in parts and once you get to the top there are some flat bits!!

500ms of a sports drink will give you around 30 -35g carb so if you dliute it will give you 10g per 500ls. TBH I do not think you will get any benefit from that as you are walking. You might be better off carrying a bottle of lucozade sport and just drink water. Take plenty of snacks - cereal bars, sandwiches etc. I would take a hot drink - pen y fan can change quickly.

We went up there after xmas in the snow and it was brill but a flask of soup on the top was just what was needed.

Let us know how you get.

ally - sports dietitian
 
I've been up the Fan quite a few times. Being a South Wales native its one of my favourite walks. We normally go the Neuadd red route as you get the hardship out of the way first ;-) In snow its wonderfull

Anyway we normally stop for a bacon butty and cuppa at Corn Du as there is a nice nook - I'll take my tester up and try there. Which raises a good question. I have been cutting back on my carbs after doing some reading..... would a sandwich with white bread sky rocket my BG levels?
 
Cheers all, glad its just not me!

Howski - did you get any sensible answers when you asked the question?

Not done Pen-Y-Fan, bit of a trek from Liverpool, did do Snowdon last year, Yorkshire 3 Peaks (40min outside the 12 hours :evil: ) and the Kentmere Horseshoe...

Paul
http://walkingforheartkids.blogspot.com/
 
I asked the doctor and on a few forums and did not get a decent answer - Ally's and the advice in that link seem to be the best. Not being on meds or insulin I'm not as worried about deadly lows but I still want to avoid cramp. Doc suggested taking a bananna up ...... that does not work, it will get squished!! I am thinking about asking to go on meds - I see it better to get my BG under controll now and see if the weight loss works its charms later. I can always come off the meds if need be!

I'm planning on snowdon later this year. Your probably closer to Pen Y Fan than me but its something me and my mates do when I'm back home. Its worth the view esp if its been snowing:

http://www.howski.com/images/snow 005edit.jpg

No quite good enough yet to do mountains too much - inclines give me a issue. Its all this flat living down south !!

Its not that hard of a climb either - if you go up the easy route you could probably be up and down in under 3 hours
 
Back
Top