RuthW
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 1,158
- Type of diabetes
- Type 1
- Treatment type
- Pump
I think this has been an interesting thread and brought up some very interesting points. I am also not a low-carber, and right now I have no intention of becoming one.Interesting feedback...would you like to elaborate on which points you disagree with?
Carbs aren't necessary...I beg to differ. If you speak with any elite level cyclist they will tell you that carbs are essential. I also have months worth of lab tests done both on the bike and off the bike that back up that carbs are very much necessary - for me as an individual any way.
But yes I agree - they often are rather tasty to eat!!
I think you are absolutely right about the exercise. It is THE key, and I agree that it should be on prescription for all diabetics, not just type 1s.
I don't low carb, but I had terrible problems for years on MDI because I was diagnosed back in the dark ages when needles were like roughly sharpened fire pokers, insulin contained all kinds of crystallizing agents and there were no blood sugar meters. I ended up with terrible injection sites and, I now realize, very poor and erratic absorption of insulin. And terrible hba1cs.
But I exercised a lot. Just because I thought, "Dammit, I've got to live. And I like sport so I'm doing it."
And on switching to a pump recently, I got my blood sugar under control in a very short time and have proved to have very high insulin sensitivity. Nowadays, at fifty-plus, I am trying to build muscle and get back closer to the levels of fitness I had twenty years ago (when I was doing martial arts up to five times a week, plus cycling everywhere). In fact, if I can get my fitness and flexibility up, I might just start karate again. (probably hit the headlines in Turkey "Funny old foreign lady starts karate - and she's diabetic fgs!)
Have you read The Diabetic Athlete's Handbook. She says that when you build muscle, you effectively have a bigger "sink" for glycogen in your muscles and that storage of glycogen helps to even out your blood sugars later (I'm looking for the quote right now. If/when I find it, I'll post it.)
She gives examples of athletes who eat almost as much for breakfast in carbs as I do for the whole day - and I'm not low carbing! So, yes, there are lots of people like you.
I do think that you mustn't underestimate the difficulties in coordinating an insulin regime and a serious exercise routine. All the planning, adjusting and correcting is not for wimps.
I also have a personal goal to get my insulin intake down below 20 units a day, WITHOUT low carbing. That means some serious exercise!