How Do You Exercise?

[CerpinTaxt]

I can't do any cardio exercise because I end up having to eat non-stop for hours after... but I want to lose some weight. Is this something that can stop happening?

Also, if when you exercise your body burns off the glucose (lowering BS), does it ever go and work off the fat that's already there?

Thanks,
CT

[duck]

What's your insulin regimen? ie, # of shots a day, type of insulin, etc.

[statdeac]

Do you take your bg reading before exercising? Also, you may want to try eating or drinking something just before exercising to help avoid lows during or afterwards.

[Cinnabon]

Very interesting.. I'd like to hear all the answers, please. As for me, I take 40 units of insulin a day divided into 4 shots. I do cardio for 45 min.

[ksa01]

Good questions. Unfortunately, I don't think there is any one answer.

I stuggled with this for a long time and finally figured out what works for me most of the time. I'm on an insulin pump which makes the whole process easier to deal with. I have to eat at least 40 grams of carbs before exercising, have no active insulin other than my basal, and have the pump suspended/disconnected for about 1.5 hours (during exercise and 1/2 beyond). To accomplish this without eating extra carbs beyond my usual intake at meals, I try to exercise within a half hour after eating a meal. I have to wait the 1/2 hr so my bs increases to 160-170 range to avoid going low. I check my bs before, during, immediately after, and about 1 hr after exercising so I know what's happening and can treat lows quickly if necessary. I had to just experiment and keep logs of what was happening throughout the process and how my body reacts. I came up with the 40 grams of carbs because I realized that I was eating at least 30 grams of carbs either during or after exercising to either come out of a low or prevent one.

Exercising is important so don't just give up. Cut yourself some slack. Focus first on maintaining your current weight while you work on exercising without going low and therefore eating more. After you can successfully exercise without having to eat more to cover a low, then start focusing on weight loss. You'll probably have to eat more than you want to while you are figuring out how many carbs you need to cover the exercise without going low. Once you figure this out, you can work it into your daily calorie and carb totals and therefore avoid eating more on a daily basis.

[CerpinTaxt]

I'm using Lantus (30 units every AM) and Humalog (sliding scale w/ meals). I suppose just testing different strategies is my best bet, at least I know now that I actually CAN exercise.

Thanks everyone.

CT

[am1977]

It's a balance, CT :), and it's not easy balancing exercise, with insulin needs, and food. I am a regular exerciser...everyday for about 1 hr 15- 1 hr 30 min...and I am still trying to figure out how to exercise and end up in range. Well, easier said than done. I am often too low after exercise...even if I eat before. But it's a lot better than it has been.

The important thing to do is to test right before the gym...make sure you start at an adequate number...200 is ok to start out, b/c most likely it will fall as you exercise. If you are planning on going to workout right after you eat, divide your insulin dose in half. That's a very basic way to adjust for exercise. If you workout a few hours later after a meal, test first and then decide whether you need to eat something.

I've learned from experience that testing is so important before you exercise. There have been times when I finished working out and I was in the 30s or 40s...I was a walking zombie :eek: . Very scary!

Good luck with your exercise program :)

[pbmax]

Being new to all this myself I have been trying to find the best solution for exercise as well. ButI have a hard time just exercising. I have to be having for or doing something constructive. (or destructive with the tractor). I'm having a bit of A time trying to manage the BS also but getting better. The 1st couple of times I worked out in the yard. It was only couple of hrs before I started to feel bottomend out and had to go and eat a bite. only to find later I over did it and my BS went to the high side.... 149

Yesterday was better though. I spent 2hrs on the tractor and ate lunch and checking my BS and found it at 122.(before eating) Then we loaded up after lunch and went 4 wheeling at 3pm. I had piece of honey wheat bread and a few chips as a snack before we hit the trails. Ther same snakc at 5:30 while loading up. At 7pm last night I checked the BS right before dinner and it was 99. So Slowly I'm getting better at it.