[fit226]

hey everyone...ok, i have great insight into training both competively and leisurely. I have been training for 17 years and a type 1 diabetic for 30 years (diagnosed at 2).

To answer alot of your questions, both aerobic and resistance training are beneficial to the diabetic. Over the years i have noticed that resistance training elevates my sugars quite a bit once i am done working out. This is due to the fact that your liver stores glycogen and therefore is releasing into your blood stream while you are training to aid in repair of the muscle you are breaking down. You are therefore going to have sugars in your blood stream that are waiting to be taken up by your muscle cells. This takes a little bit of time after your workout, so your sugars will test a little high right after working out.

The benefits of weight training and cardio training are super for the diabetic. The more muscle mass you store on your body the more calories (whether glycogen or fat) your body will burn doing nothing (ie sitting on the couch). This will help stabilize your blood sugars and eat away any sugars floating around your blood stream waiting to cause havoc on your arteries and small blood vessels.

Insulin is an amazing anabolic hormone that your body produces (bodybuilders have found this out and inject insulin to help put on muscle mass even though they aren't diabetic..silly but true) NOTE TO ALL DIABETICS...you have the ability to add muscle easier to your frame then the average person. Again, the more muscle mass you have, the more calories your burn doing everyday activities and help in eliminating sugars in your blood stream (and women don't be afraid, your not going to be MS.OLYMPIA if you start working out, you will more or less see that tight toned look easier then the average woman).

I hope this will give you some insight of the benefits of aerobic and anaerobic can have on your diabetes. I have managed to get as low as 4% bodyfat, so please no excuses that insulin will not help you lose weight...it all boils down to discipline and willpower....i am here to help answer any questions any of you may have.

For 30 years diabetic, i have not had any complications or issues with my diabetes.

[fit226]

some pics from training...

[xMenace]

Originally Posted by fit226

This is due to the fact that your liver stores glycogen and therefore is releasing into your blood stream while you are training to aid in repair of the muscle you are breaking down. You are therefore going to have sugars in your blood stream that are waiting to be taken up by your muscle cells. This takes a little bit of time after your workout, so your sugars will test a little high right after working out.

I'm not sure that this is a correct assessment. I believe the liver responds to the stressors of an anaerobic workout, a natural reflex to aid the body in the hunt, the battle, the sexual encounter, defending the attack, fighting that hypo, etc. I suspect adrenalin and testosterone play a big part.

My experience has been a short term rise in BGs, sometimes quite extreme depending on the activity, followed by a middle term lowering. I think the repairing of muscle is what actually makes one's BGs go lower over the next couple of days.

I am currently trying to do more aerobic types of exercise. When I do weight train, I keep the workout short and light. This is more due to me re-learning how to manage these events with my pump and recovery from surgical downtime. I expect to increase my anaerobic and strength training workouts slowly over the next few months. I actually just purchased a power cage for my son and myself.

Thanks for the notes. I'm sure you'll be consulted

[fit226]

your quite right...if i don't get some form of carbs in within the hour after working out, i go low for sure. I have to do a bit of research on the pump..i am old school needles and vials...i don't know if i could get used to being "hooked up"

[xMenace]

Originally Posted by fit226

your quite right...if i don't get some form of carbs in within the hour after working out, i go low for sure. I have to do a bit of research on the pump..i am old school needles and vials...i don't know if i could get used to being "hooked up"

Lots of threads about the pros and cons. The big reason for me was my roller coaster basals. Flat-lines injections couldn't controll them. I can't see me living without one.

[someone]

The pump is also great when you are exercising because you can completely remove your basal. I have never experienced highs after exercise, but if you have that problem, it can be easily corrected with the pump's temp basal feature.

BTW, fit226.. planning on being the next Mr. Universe? lol

[BriOnH]

****, you are ripped. How much do you bench and curl? I appreciate your eagerness to share what has been relative to you in which might work for others. I have heard before from another diabetic weight lifter that insulin is an anabolic hormone. I don't often look at it from that angle. It does put a good spin on the negative.

Have you studied any fighting techniques? You look like you could kick butt at wrestling / brazillian ju-jitsu.

[fit226]

haha, no fighting for this guy..used to do alot of it in my younger days, which was enough...lol...

Anyways thanks for all the positive comments. As you can see working out is a lifestyle for me but it should definately be made a regimne in any diabetics life.

[DeusXM]

What's the best way for using insulin to build muscle mass? Currently when I weight train, I always find (as you've said) that BGs are a little high. So at the moment I inject a small amount of insulin in each arm and then I usually have a protein shake. I'd love to know a little more about how I can use insulin a little more smartly to build muscle mass.

[Larry H.]

I have a feeling that your all correct about the value of muscle mass.. I have been walking and eating less now for about 6 months, and while I have lost 30 or so pounds, I am not looking good.. Of course I am a lot older than some of you too. But my arms in particular look really sad now where they used to look pretty decent for an old guy. Now they just look old...I guess it is due to the body using up that muscle mass as it looses weight.

I have a hard time getting myself to do any kind of resistance work, but I think it would be of benifit. I did notice too that if I upped my routine of walking sometimes in stead of lower numbers I hoped for the short term effect was actually probably higher numbers.. that would balance out by yet better fasting numbers the following day or so.

[fit226]

i do about 5-6 iu's of insulin (humalog) right before i head into the gym. This allows uptake of protein into the muscle cell alot quicker for quicker recovery. Just be careful not to go low. maybe start with 2-3 iu's.

[DeusXM]

So if immediately after weight training I take a small amount of insulin and then ingest a significant amount of protein, this will be making use of the insulin as a hormone to assist in muscle growth?

[Scratch]

Originally Posted by DeusXM

So if immediately after weight training I take a small amount of insulin and then ingest a significant amount of protein, this will be making use of the insulin as a hormone to assist in muscle growth?

Probably.

There is pretty good evidence from studies done on people and exercise that eating/drinking within 30 minutes after exercise is very beneficial to the body's recovery from the stress of exercise. There also seems to be good evidence that a 4g to 1g ratio of carbohydrates to protein is optimal for the post-exercise meal/snack.

But I don't know that ingesting huge quantities of protein is more beneficial, or taking huge quantities of insulin would be beneficial either. Anything ingested in sufficient quantity and concentration can have toxic effect, as you probably already understand, Deus.

Still, a good workout is a great excuse to have a glass of chocolate milk, always a good thing in my opinion and experience.

[BriOnH]

Little off topic, sorry in advanced.

Fit, do you know what your creatinine levels are at? People with your build usually have an elevated creatnine level, and since you are diabetic, I am very curious to know what your's is at. Non D body builders often have a creatnine leve from 1.5-1.9 (normal ~ .8 - 1.5) and am curious if D body builders follow the same suite. Also may I ask if you have any micoalbumin / protien? Being in such excellent physical condition it would be awesome if I could bother you for those numbers.

As far as fighting, I didn't mean street fighting or out of a gym. Just meant competitive wise.

[HollyB]

OK, but... I just have to ask:

Where do you inject that doesn't plunge straight into muscle?

I have a mental vision of trying to insert a Quick-set on you with the automatic inserter and the whole shebang just bouncing right off those steel abs...

(very impressive BTW)