Dropping blood sugars with exercise

[poper77]

I have been on the pump for a little over a week. Usually I work out 5-6 days a week about an 1 hr each day. Since starting on the pump I have not found a way to work out more than 1/2 hour at a time. What do people do with their basal rates? Today I lowered it to 50% an hour before I started working out and after 30minutes on an eliptical machine i started to feel like my sugar was dropping... Has anyone mastered not eating during a work out? Prepump I was able to have 15 carbs and do what I wanted for however long and always be about 100....am i being naive that i don't have to eat while working out?? .:burnout:

[parrotletzoo]

you may need to drop your basal rate to even lower then 50% or lower it 30min to an hour before you exercise. My job is really physical and when I was pumping at work my basal rates were set to .15units an hour and outside of work .65 units. It helped also to lower my basal rates beginning 30min to the start of work which ended up being about an hour before things got busy/physical.

[Funnygrl]

My endo told me to just disconnect for exercise, or set a 0 rate. That's usually what I do, but my basal requirments were pretty low when he told me that. Sometimes it works, sometimes I have to eat afterwards, sometimes I have to correct afterwards. I guess you could call me inconsistant.

[Cyborg]

Aerobic exercise can lower your bg, but anaerobic exercise can raise bg...

[am1977]

If your temp. basal isn't working, maybe you do need to reduce the rate even further. That or have a snack/bigger snack before you work out.

I workout everyday (usually) and I also have problems with my blood sugar dropping too. I usually find if I eat a snack and start my workout where my levels are over 200, I'm ok... Though sometimes I still drop anyways...

Good luck!

[amccrazgrl]

I disconnect before my workout.

[pumpman]

i always disconnect before workout/sport becasue i dont want the pump to get damaged.

I'll either lower my basal if i'm doing sport in a few hours, if its straight after a meal, i just under-bolus.

[MJM]

When I exercise I always have to reduce my basal to .1units per hr. I always have a big reduction in blood sugar levels after exercise, even after a long walk. I think that if your sugar levels drop drastically as you say, you should do as others suggest and give a 0 basal rate or disconnect the pump, which you don't need anyway if you have 0 basal rate. I think that the duration of the exercise has also to be taken into account. If you exercise for an hour or more you should check your sugar levels at least hourly. You could also take perhaps 3 or 4 glucose tabs before you start.

[poodlebone]

Try lowering the rate even more and start the lower rate 2 hours before you work out, if possible.

[Shotokan]

I also disconnect when I jog, which is for about 1 hour. My BG still drops a litle, but it bounces right back.

[Cyborg]

You could also take perhaps 3 or 4 glucose tabs before you start.

Or something else without such a high glycemic index. Perhaps a banana or some other type of fruit.

lol... Just noticed your avatar!

[Vic L]

i always disconnect before workout/sport becasue i dont want the pump to get damaged.

I'll either lower my basal if i'm doing sport in a few hours, if its straight after a meal, i just under-bolus.

ditto!

Vic L