Hey Guys, please share your opinion to help me out !

[Tc99]

Hello everyone. I am a T1 diabetic for about 2 years now, and its time fo rme to hit the gym again. Before diagnosis, i was working out 5 days a week about 2 hours a day doing boxing and some anaerobic stuff. Since diagnosis ive been 2 times. Both times iahve been high after and really low a few hours past that. Basically and totally honestly, i am scared like ****. Wait is scared the word to use here ? Yes, it is, freakin scared. I want to start with doing abs every day, and then move on to more insense things. But i am afraid of going really low and then hihg etc.

Please, if anyone has any advice for me, i would greatly appriciate it. Like when to test, what to eat, what to expect, aerobic vs anaerobic.

I did do a lot of reading on all this, so i am not just trying to waste your time. I just find it that personal advice from a diabetic is far, FAR more valuable than any article or doctor.

As far as control, i am not great no, but i dont think that i am horrible, around A1c of 7 - 7.2

thanks everyone

[dgrilli]

I would try one of these. I'm not selling these things and nor do I recomend these. Also I do not own any stock in them.

Some of the folks here are getting one of these including myself.

DexCom (http://www.dexcom.com/html/dexcom_products.html)


or

The Guardian® REAL-Time Continuous Glucose Monitoring System (http://www.minimed.com/products/guardian/)

Continuous Glucose Monitoring ("CGM") device for people with diabetes.

If I'm right and you properly use these your going to get rid of your phobias and get in better control.

I not endorsing either one of these but you can make your own choice with the information you gather.

Heck, both will give you 30 day trials.

[REDLAN]

I cycle off road, and do free weights to build leg power and core muscles, and a bit of toning for upper body. I've played around with insulin, taking carbs and my routine to get something that works with the diabetes.

I'm assuming you understand why you went high during - the liver dumps glucose into the blood stream in response to high intensity exertion (technically once you reach the lactate zone typically above 140 bpm)

I assume you test before during and after your program to see how things are going.

I have some suggestions...

1) lower the intensity of the weights program. Go for endurance (15+ reps) rather than power (<6 reps). This will help you stay below the lactate threshold and prevent an extreme BG rise.

2) take a correction shot of insulin - If your weights program continues to raise BG then you could consider taking insulin as you start your program (definitely need to test this one, and err on the side of caution) - alternatively you can still correct at the end of the session.

the low afterwards is caused by the muscles becoming more sensitive to insulin, and so absorbing glucose. The effect typically lasts around 24 hours, sometimes a bit longer.

suggestions...

1) try dropping your basal dose - if you are on MDI then just dropping your basal by 2 units may be enough to take the edge of the lows.

2) drop your carb ratios at meal times (if you are using them)

3) have small regular snacks to keep your BG up - and consider a before bed snack to keep BG up overnight.

I got to my program by experimenting. You will have to do the same - sometimes you will get it wrong. Don't worry about it give yourself a correction shot or take some sugar, and figure how you are going to manage it better next time.

[Scratch]

Always test before you workout and test after to help build an evidentiary profile.

Now based upon people describing their experiences, my sense of the matter is that for many when starting up an exercise program, maintaing control during and after the exercise is tough. I believe this to be caused by how changing from being primarily sedentary over to being regularly active results in both affecting metabolism and insulin sensitivity.

Perhaps changing over is best accomplished in gradual steps, if possible. Don't forget that due to your downtime, you won't get back immediately or even all that soon to 5 days a week 2 hours at a time.

I think you could try for something like 30 minutes a session and 3 times a week to start off and I'd suggest that you keep the intensity low. This will give you a way to start seeing how lower intensity and more aerobic activity affect you.

It's takes some time and diligence while you gather the data for what will be your individually unique profile, but worth it.

[xMenace]

Always test before you workout and test after to help build an evidentiary profile.

This has been my best tool this past year. I try to build a profile for any uncertain event by testing every half an hour, sometimes every 20mins or 60mins.

A CGMS would be better, but I'm not ready to invest in one yet.

[Ronin]

Tc99, et al.,

There is a lot of technology out there that can assist, but a "training buddy" could make all the difference for you. Somebody you can trust who will make sure that you don't over-do and will even make you test during a workout session can make a huge differenece.

While the science of medicine can assist you, only by learning the artistry of your own body can you make an effective program of diet and exercise work to maintain your BG levels. Since I'm neither on medication nor insulin I don't have to worry about Hypo-events while exercising but I have tracked my BG levels before, during and after cycling on the roads. Generally because of the intensity of the effort my BG always goes up following an intense session but goes down after a recovery period. I also get that lovely glucose uptake by the muscles following training that keeps me in check.

[JediSurfer]

The best idea would be to test every 15 minutes or so when

you exercise so you can see exactly when BG changes are

happening.


Do you eat immediately after exercising?

This is very important. You need to replace the stored

glucose which has been used during exercise. I always make

sure I get some starchy carbs into me within 30 minutes.

This time frame is essential to replacing the glucogen and for

a good recovery.


Will also stop the hypo later on.


What sort of foods are you eating to give you energy and

carbs for the exercise and do you carry a glucose drink or

tabs. Also do you make sure you keep yourself hydrated?


Rich