Confused Please Explain

[Schlep]

Everyone keeps saying how important exercise is, today I walked 3 miles and was very surprised because i checked my numbers before exercise and 1/2 hour after exercise and my numbers went up 20%

Can anyone explain this to me.

Thanks

[Mich]

Hi Schlep,

There are a couple of reasons that I can think of.

Our meters are really only accurate within about a 20% range per government regs. I've tested twice in a row from the same site and gotten numbers with a 20% difference.

If you aren't used to exercise or your sugar was too low to start, your body may have perceived the walk as stressful and caused your liver to release sugar into your blood to deal with the "fight or flight" response. This should improve as your exercise more regularly. If I wear uncomfortable shoes and my feet hurt during a walk, my sugar goes up due to the pain stress.

If you went too low during your walk, the above response would have happened, causing you to be slightly higher at the end of your walk. You may need a little snack at the beginning.

Don't assume any of these until you've done tests before, during and every hour after exercising (for 4-5 hours.) Only then will you know what's really happening. I'm sure you will get responses from others with more suggestions.

Mich

[Jan B]

My first thought is . . . you know not to exercise if your blood sugar is over 200 (or 250), right? I can't explain why, but it continues to go up if you start out too high.

Did you eat before walking? What was your reading before you walked?

[Schlep]

My first thought is . . . you know not to exercise if your blood sugar is over 200 (or 250), right? I can't explain why, but it continues to go up if you start out too high.

Did you eat before walking? What was your reading before you walked?

Blood sugar was not above 200, no I did not eat.

[princesslinda]

I notice higher numbers right after exercise (also after a hot bath...yes, I was really into testing when first diagnosed;) ). However, if I check in another 30 minutes, this has corrected...AND my next morning fasting is considerably lower.

[deansreef]

" you know not to exercise if your blood sugar is over 200 (or 250), right?"


I thought exercising would bring the sugar down???

why is it not safe to exercise at 200 or more>?

[HiImDan]

They say it's bad for the heart cuz of hypertension, but I've been working out for 28 years and find it a good way to bring blood sugar down. Everybody (literally) is different.

Schlep, the fight or flight explanation is *probably* what happened. I'm not a professional, just my opinion.

[Dawn]

If I test within a half hour of exercise my numbers are slightly higher as well. I'm not sure if this is true but it seems that if I exercise in the morning I think that it affects my body's ability to use the glucose better all through out the day. Test a few times after you exercise to get an idea of how you're doing. It really can lower your b/g.
Good luck.
Dawn :)

[princesslinda]

" you know not to exercise if your blood sugar is over 200 (or 250), right?"


I thought exercising would bring the sugar down???

why is it not safe to exercise at 200 or more>?


I believe this is because exercise can push your levels even higher.

Also, at higher blood sugars, you'll most likely "spill ketones" in your urine. Ketones are produced when the body burns fat for energy or fuel. Ketones are produced when there is not enough insulin to help your body use sugar for energy. Without enough insulin, glucose builds up in the blood. Since the body is unable to use glucose for energy, it breaks down fat instead. When this occurs, ketones form in the blood and spill into the urine.