The other thread on hypoglycemia is a very good, informative thread that people should be aware of. I'm starting this new thread to see if anyone out there has experienced a related situation.
I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes a few years ago. Right around that time (and before I went on glucophage for the diabetes), I came home from practice one night feeling lousy. I checked my glucose level and found it to be 279, which is very high. I continued to test every 15 minutes to half hour to see where it was going and it gradually came down to a normal level. This happened even though I ate a meal after seeing that it was going down (and I felt like I needed food). I never eat for a few hours before a workout, and my glucose levels had been at or near normal for days before this happened.
After this incident, I started testing immediately before and after a workout and found that my glucose level ALWAYS goes up after a workout, with nothing but water taken in during the workout. I had several times back then where it went over 200. Nowadays it doesn't go that high, but I am taking glucophage now.
My doctor just shakes her head and says "that's not right, it should go down with a workout". Tell me something I don't know! I saw an endocrinologist that thought that this could be consistent with a delayed insulin response that diabetics have, hence the start of my medication.
Has anyone else out there seen such a response with their glucose levels?
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Former Member
From reading your post, SwimsWitha Fist, you are monitoring your diabetes well. Congratulations. And you are keeping an excellent exercise routine as well.
Do you test your sugar levels before you begin to exercise?
(Your glucometer should be like the master card ad, 'never leave home without it'. An easy way is to bring it is in a ziplock bag with a small face cloth to dry your hands and leave it on the pool deck).
If your sugar levels are over 225, and you have ketones, exercise will actually cause your levels to go even higher.
Ideally, to be able to use your blood sugars when exercising, they need to be around 160. When they are high,(over say 225 or 12.5) it makes a person feel sluggish and inefficient in the water. This is partly due to the fact that your cells cannot get the energy and are now breaking down either fat an/or muscle.
The reason you would 'feel' hungry is because your body has been working hard without fuel, as the circulating sugars are not able to get into the cells.
Insulin is like a key to unlock the door ie your cells. In type 2, you have lots of keys, just that they are like putty and won't turn the lock. Hence the medication.
Are you eating a Low Glycemic Index diet? There is an excellent place where diabetics exchange amazing amounts of knowledge.
www.joslin.org. The online library is a real treasure, and the discussion boards are incredible.
You should also remember that different workouts will affect your blood sugar levels. High end sprints will elevate levels and high effort as well. Sometimes heavy weight training,(when you are in the phase of your weight training where you are pushing your maximum for 1-2 repeats), can also alter blood sugar levels. Plus competition also throws the levels way off. This is because the hormone adrenalin is released, along with other hormones like cortisol. What this does is stimulate the body into a stress like situation. (Stress also raises blood sugar levels)The reaction is fight or flight. We need to be excited about racing and working hard, and must therefore be prepared for the management and sucessfull ability to reach our swimming goals.
The website that Conniekat8 has posted is a good source as well.
Dehydration is definietly a cause for elevating blood sugars. If you are drinking caffinated beverages, make sure you also drink equal amounts of water.
Is your coach aware of your needs? Let your coach know your numbers before training if they are high. The coach can adjust the warmup so you can work down the numbers a bit. Or alter where the speed part, high effort will be.
For those on insulin, your coach should also be aware of your numbers. And when your last shot of insulin was. It can be difficult given training times and pool avaliability to time a shot so the peak is over before training begins. Exercise plus circulating insulin will result in low levels once the food is used up.
And for females, pre menstrual cycle will also push numbers up. Menopause complicates it even further.
Hope this helps.
"To motivate, add water"
"Fear is a reaction, courage is a decision"
Reply
Former Member
From reading your post, SwimsWitha Fist, you are monitoring your diabetes well. Congratulations. And you are keeping an excellent exercise routine as well.
Do you test your sugar levels before you begin to exercise?
(Your glucometer should be like the master card ad, 'never leave home without it'. An easy way is to bring it is in a ziplock bag with a small face cloth to dry your hands and leave it on the pool deck).
If your sugar levels are over 225, and you have ketones, exercise will actually cause your levels to go even higher.
Ideally, to be able to use your blood sugars when exercising, they need to be around 160. When they are high,(over say 225 or 12.5) it makes a person feel sluggish and inefficient in the water. This is partly due to the fact that your cells cannot get the energy and are now breaking down either fat an/or muscle.
The reason you would 'feel' hungry is because your body has been working hard without fuel, as the circulating sugars are not able to get into the cells.
Insulin is like a key to unlock the door ie your cells. In type 2, you have lots of keys, just that they are like putty and won't turn the lock. Hence the medication.
Are you eating a Low Glycemic Index diet? There is an excellent place where diabetics exchange amazing amounts of knowledge.
www.joslin.org. The online library is a real treasure, and the discussion boards are incredible.
You should also remember that different workouts will affect your blood sugar levels. High end sprints will elevate levels and high effort as well. Sometimes heavy weight training,(when you are in the phase of your weight training where you are pushing your maximum for 1-2 repeats), can also alter blood sugar levels. Plus competition also throws the levels way off. This is because the hormone adrenalin is released, along with other hormones like cortisol. What this does is stimulate the body into a stress like situation. (Stress also raises blood sugar levels)The reaction is fight or flight. We need to be excited about racing and working hard, and must therefore be prepared for the management and sucessfull ability to reach our swimming goals.
The website that Conniekat8 has posted is a good source as well.
Dehydration is definietly a cause for elevating blood sugars. If you are drinking caffinated beverages, make sure you also drink equal amounts of water.
Is your coach aware of your needs? Let your coach know your numbers before training if they are high. The coach can adjust the warmup so you can work down the numbers a bit. Or alter where the speed part, high effort will be.
For those on insulin, your coach should also be aware of your numbers. And when your last shot of insulin was. It can be difficult given training times and pool avaliability to time a shot so the peak is over before training begins. Exercise plus circulating insulin will result in low levels once the food is used up.
And for females, pre menstrual cycle will also push numbers up. Menopause complicates it even further.
Hope this helps.
"To motivate, add water"
"Fear is a reaction, courage is a decision"
