Taking workout supplements with T1 diabetes

[GregGolden]

******Did not know what to post under...thats why the mulitple post!*******

I am a swimmer, and have intense workouts everyday. My friend told me about Emergen-c,(http://www.mothernature.com/shop/det.../40083/S/99616) a powder you mix with water thats 1000% (one-thousand) of your daily value. It contains I think little to so carbs (3grams). Will this effect my diabetes at all?

There is also this pill called endurox, (http://www.gnc.com/product/index.jsp...entPage=search)
All it is is a workout pill to help with lactic acid and energy. I was thinking about starting that, but dont know if it is safe with my diabetes.

Thanks for any help!

[DeusXM]

I've used a few suppliments before whilst exercising and it's fair to say that they will have an effect. After all, that's what they're supposed to do.

More practically, you'll need to look at the products and see what they're suposed to do, and then apply that to what effects they might have on your BG. The Energen has a small amount of fructose which will probably elevate your BG very slightly, but if you're exercising then you'll probably need that. The other ingredients look just like vitamins to me, and they shouldn't have too much of an effect on your BG. The vitamin C might slightly raise your BG but the B vitamins and the effect they have on your energy will probably eliminate this.

The Energen looks like a reasonably safe compound, but as always, check your BG throughout the day with it. I'd recommend hourly or 2-hourly testing so you don't get caught out and can get a good idea of how it affects you.

I don't really have any specific advice regarding the Endurox. It looks like it's just a load of vitamin E and some plant roots. This doesn't sound like it'll affect your BG much, but obviously check regularly.

As some general advice, I've found that training suppliments are generally safe provided you are already in control of you diabetes and know what you're doing.

[GregGolden]

I've been reading about it, and it says:

"Endurox Excel changes the way your body fuels a workout by shifting your body's workout energy source from carbohydrate to fat."

Do you think im going to have to maybe double up on my pre-workout sugar high? Before I swim, I drink a Boost, 40 grams of carbs, and that usually covers me for that workout. Do you think ill have to eat more because of that shifting the carbs to fat?

[DeusXM]

I think that's something of an ambitious statement - no dietary suppliment is suddenly going to totally and utterly change the way your body works. In any case, even if this was true, you'd actually need to eat less. If your body was burning fats instead of carbs then more carbs would simply mean higher blood sugar.

I don't mean to be rude and I didn't say anything earlier, but the stuff you've posted really isn't going to make a great deal of difference to your sporting ability. All you're going to do with these is pump your body full of vitamins. You know what your body does with excess vitamins? It doesn't store them, they just end up in your bladder before leaving you for good.

these things are ridiculously overpriced for what you're getting. If you're serious about your sport, then herbal suppliments simply aren't going to cut it. Stuff like this really isn't going to make a noticeable difference to your performance.