WHY SO HIGH ?

[hazey276]

I've recently joined a gym, which, as all of you are aware, is a very good thing. The problem i have is that even though i'm following a training programme set by the instructors there i can't get my BS below 15, (ouch), and obviously i'm starting to feel rough again :shock: . I really don't understand it before i started at the gym i had good averages for the vast majority of the time (mid 5s) . I've asked at the gym if they know any reason why this should happen but they said they haven't got a clue

Any advice from any of you athletes out there would be of real help !!!!!!!!!!

Hazey

 

[sixfoot]

Relative to your exercise when are you testing ?
What and when are you eating and drinking ?

Dave P

 

[sugar2]

Well done you!

I would guess that you may be overcompensating for the exercise with extra carbs?????? I was told by my Dr that if I exercised, I need 30 g of carbohydrate. Liek much medical advice though, this is not a one size fits all thing! Following his advice, I ended up high after exercise.

If you are not eating anything extra, then I am stumped too. personally, I would look at otherthings that might have changed, as the gym thing might be a coincidence? Dodgy insulins and insulin pens, change in carbohydrate intake...especailly in "hidden"carbs???

 

[hanadr]

Hi Hazey!
I would hazard a guess that your BG is high when you start to do your exercise. It's one of the Quirks of diabetes, that If you exercise on a high BG, it often goes UP. You need to get down into the safe zone, i.e. below 7 BEFORE your start. You can do this by cutting down carbs or upping your medication.
I'm not sure of the mechanism. that's probably one for Fergus.
Hana

 

[FindingNemo]

Steady, aerobic exercise causes your blood glucose to decline, however, non aerobic exercise will cause your blood glucose levels to rise.

I found when I started going to the gym, I was doing all the aerobic stuff 1st, then was finishing up with the weights and stuff and often my BG could be higher than when I started! By changing my exerise routine around, mixing the aerobic/non aerobic stuff up and doing slighlty more of the aerobic rather than the 50/50 split I started with, I managed to maintain much better control and generally came out slightly lower, even when turning my pump off for the hour I was in the gym.

 

[phoenix]

Hana's right,If you start exercise with high blood sugars they can go up, and moreover it can in some circumstances be dangerous.
If you want to exercise and your BS is above 13mmol, you need to test for ketones. If present they will indicate that there is too little circulating insulin and you risk your BS getting higher and possible DKA.
If above 16.mmol you really shouldn't exercise at all . Just concentrate on lowering your leve

If your BS is going up during exercise, it may be because of the type of exercise. Aerobic exercise is more likely to lower it. (we're all different mine plumets in the first 20 minutes and then stabalises). Anaerobic exercise, as Nemo says can raise levels. see for explanationhttp://www.runsweet.com/StartingSports.html

 

[hanadr]

Handy hint
If you're breathless, you are probably anarobic and recovering you "oxygen debt"

 

[hazey276]

Thanks for the replies and sorry for delay in getting back. I didn't actually increase the carbs to start the training as i wanted to see what the reaction would be. Each time i've started the training my levels have not been below 10ish, and as stated ive tried not to over do it, to stay within my fitness level. I thought i read somewhere that increasing insulin levels wasn't good but i might be wrong that's why i've kept the carb intake nice and low to try and prevent the increase of insulin.

 

[sedge]

Hmmmmm - there is a school of thought that says we Diabolics are better to exercise v. strenuously/longer than 20 mins only every 48 hours rather than daily - the interval is to allow the effects to work out of the system and get you back to normal before you start again. Then you should be able to see 'what really happens' to you and therefore be able to act/react accordingly.

Think there's a Forum on RunSweet, or at least you can email them?

 

[Trinkwasser]

Time of day may also make a difference, I don't normally get Dawn Phenomenon but my BG tends to shoot up if I overexert myself in the morning. In the afternoon I'm more likely to drive it low. Someone I know gets this phenomenon far worse than me.

In both cases I find covering the exertion with a small bolus of carbs and fat before starting seems to keep the liver under control, and if necessary further snacks during prolonged exercise. Also a high protein breakfast helps.

On a long term basis this pattern seems to have improved, I'm getting away with better numbers on fewer snacks nowadays.