When should I test

[Dawn]

I want to see how exercise is effecting my numbers so I wondered how long after I exercise I should test.

(I test prior to exercise and I tend not to get lows. I am type 2 and controlling with diet and exercise).

Thanks - Dawn

[Scratch]

I always try to test as soon as possible after exercise.

[Dawn]

I've heard something and then saw a post recently that said bg can increase slightly right after exercise so I wondered if there was a window of time before I should test. Maybe not.

[volleyball]

Do you just want to see where your numbers go or are you trying to correlate to medicine?
If you don't mind using up strips and looking like a pincushion, you could test every half hour. But you'd have to do that repeatedly depending on how many different exercise routines you have.

[chrisn]

Hi there - I'm also interested in the "BG can increase slightly right after exercise" phenomenon.

Last night, after a particularly challenging karate class, I came straight home and checked BG - it was 119. I usually run in the 90's-100's before dinner, so was surprised to see this spike. An hour and a half later, and after dinner, BG was 115.
This morning's FBG was 94.

Would the increase be due to the liver having to release some glucogen during exercise, perhaps? Curious....

[REDLAN]

Would the increase be due to the liver having to release some glucogen during exercise, perhaps? Curious....

this would be it ;-)

there are 2 responses to exercise (there are more but these are relevant to diabetes)

1) the muscles become more sensitive to insulin - and this effect can last several hours afterwards. One of the reasons that exercise is recommended for type 2, as it helps lower insulin resistance.

2) the second effect occurs with more intense exercise. The body's response is to release glucose from the liver to try and supply your energy hungry muscles. This effect can be quite dramatic and can overwhelm your body's ability to produce insulin to lower it. I find this effect lasts at most a couple of hours after exercise has stopped.

I'm a type 1 and effect number 2) can cause very dramatic rises in BG - played paintball a couple of months back, and my BG skyrocketed from 6mmol (108) all the way up to 19 mmol (340) - and that was with correction shots. The BG rise was down to the very intense activity associated with charging around the woods.

[chrisn]

Wow, thanks for the explanation, Redlan - this forum is a wonderful place for support and information!

[Ronin]

Dawn, et al.,

I've been doing some research on the mechanisms that regulate blood glucose. One is realted to exercise. That burning sensation from Lactic Acid that you feel with maximum exertions is a signal to the body to release glucose into the blood stream. So, when you end a workout with screaming muscles that same lactic acid is telling your liver and/or fat cells to release glucose. That would elevate BG levels post exercise.

I noted that Dawn, like me, is not on medication so that probablity of going Hypo is not likely. However, I can say that from my own testing I have noted that immediately following a really strenuous bike ride my BG levels increase markedly. That's the down side. The up-side is that my muscle cells grab all the glucose they can gather and some hours later my BG levels are back in my "normal" range. (Not to be confused with other definitions of "normal" -- it isn't 70 mg/dl by a long shot).

Oh yes, stress hormones do the same thing to BG levels, and that is part of the fight/flight response both of which require extra energy.

[Dawn]

Thank you for the information. You are right, I do not have lows so that is not my concern...it is that I've done all of this great exercising and my numbers increase and I just want them to be lower than when I started :eek:. Thank you for explaining it. It also makes sense about the stress hormones although I have not put those together. Perhaps that is why during PMS my numbers are higher...stress...:banghead:

Great A1c's!!!
I recently agreed to cholesterol medication...and also Niacin and I see that is what you are taking. I hope it is helping for you.

[thomasb]

I do weightlifting 5 times a week, and some cardio. I''ve noticed that my bg will genereally not drop during weightlifting, but it will start to drop once i get home. Hence i eat a snack and some protein. With cardio thugh it will drop pretty fast, say 45 min of running. i usually have to bring glucose to eat then.

Thats just me...

[volleyball]

The effect may be more immediate if you had a lot of carbs and then exercise, you'll see less of a rise. But for normal exercise, it will probably be when you muscles have finished rebuilding that you will see the greatest benefit.

[dodo]

In my case, my BSL is usually high enough RIGHT after exercise (13-15 mmol/L or 230-250) mostly due to adrenaline, but it lowers (5-6 mmol/L or 90-100) only 45 min. to one hour later.

[Evermont]

... The BG rise was down to the very intense activity associated with charging around the woods.

I just tried paintball this past weekend for the first time. There certainly was some running around - but mostly taking cover trying not to get shot. Most folks are rather concerned about the sting of a 300 foot-per-second paintball. I'm sporting a couple welts myself.

I wonder if the stress of "combat" has more to do with it than exertion. Just a thought.