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
Here is an explanation for those who are trying to figure out how exercise affects blood sugars.
As we know, it is a delicate balancing act to keep blood sugars in a normal range. It is even more of a challenge when exercising.
When exercising large muscle groups, the uptake of blood glucose may result in hypoglycemia during or following exercise. If circulating levels of insulin are high at the beginning of exercise, hypoglycemia will result. However exercising with high blood sugars and ketones will cause sugars to go even higher.
There are variables that affect your blood sugar response> The time of day you exercise, timing of insulin doses and types of insulin, the time you ate, your sugar levels when exercising, the type and duration and intensity of the exercise, environmental temperatures, illness, hormones and hydration. And how your body is used to this activity, ie if it is a new activity.
Basically the way energy is used during physical activity affects blood sugar levels. How fast you move, how much force you produce and how long the activity. There are three energy systems to supply your muscles with these demands.
Studies of people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes have shown that very intense exercise such as resistance training, weight training, or near maximal aerobic exercise will cause an immediate rise in blood sugar levels due to the body’s hormonal release of several hormones to the workload. Intense exercise causes the release of hormones that increase the liver’s production of glucose and reduce the muscles’ uptake of blood sugars. These hormones include adrenalin, norepinephrone, as well as glucagons, growth hormone and cortisol. The effects of these counter regulatory (glucose raising) hormones will exceed your body’s immediate need for and use of glucose because high intensity exercise cannot be sustained for long periods of time. Consequently a state of insulin resistance is induced, which can last for a few hours after exercise. You may require insulin or meds to lower this.
During aerobic activity or sustained medium effort activity, the fuels used by your body are primarily carbohydrates. Protein is usually only utilized during very prolonged endurance activity. Keep in mind that carbohydrate use increases rapidly when you begin to exercise, and increase with additional increments. High intensity activity uses 100% carbohydrate and zero fat. Muscle glycogen is used along with blood glucose. However for activity of mild to medium activity, carbohydrates are used as well the hormone epinephrine mobilizes fats from your adipose stores which then circulate as free fatty acids. This fat source and carbohydrates are used more extensively during mild to moderate activity. During recovery from exercise the predominate fuel source is fat.
The actual aerobic fuels you use do depend on your training, your diet before and during the activity, the intensity and duration of the activity, your circulating levels of insulin and the degree of activity that your body is used to. For example when beginning a new activity you may require more carbohydrates than when you are more sports specific fit. If you swim and then take up cycling as well, then you may require carbs to begin with until your body becomes efficient and more fit in this activity.
I have more information if anyone is interested.
Here is an explanation for those who are trying to figure out how exercise affects blood sugars.
As we know, it is a delicate balancing act to keep blood sugars in a normal range. It is even more of a challenge when exercising.
When exercising large muscle groups, the uptake of blood glucose may result in hypoglycemia during or following exercise. If circulating levels of insulin are high at the beginning of exercise, hypoglycemia will result. However exercising with high blood sugars and ketones will cause sugars to go even higher.
There are variables that affect your blood sugar response> The time of day you exercise, timing of insulin doses and types of insulin, the time you ate, your sugar levels when exercising, the type and duration and intensity of the exercise, environmental temperatures, illness, hormones and hydration. And how your body is used to this activity, ie if it is a new activity.
Basically the way energy is used during physical activity affects blood sugar levels. How fast you move, how much force you produce and how long the activity. There are three energy systems to supply your muscles with these demands.
Studies of people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes have shown that very intense exercise such as resistance training, weight training, or near maximal aerobic exercise will cause an immediate rise in blood sugar levels due to the body’s hormonal release of several hormones to the workload. Intense exercise causes the release of hormones that increase the liver’s production of glucose and reduce the muscles’ uptake of blood sugars. These hormones include adrenalin, norepinephrone, as well as glucagons, growth hormone and cortisol. The effects of these counter regulatory (glucose raising) hormones will exceed your body’s immediate need for and use of glucose because high intensity exercise cannot be sustained for long periods of time. Consequently a state of insulin resistance is induced, which can last for a few hours after exercise. You may require insulin or meds to lower this.
During aerobic activity or sustained medium effort activity, the fuels used by your body are primarily carbohydrates. Protein is usually only utilized during very prolonged endurance activity. Keep in mind that carbohydrate use increases rapidly when you begin to exercise, and increase with additional increments. High intensity activity uses 100% carbohydrate and zero fat. Muscle glycogen is used along with blood glucose. However for activity of mild to medium activity, carbohydrates are used as well the hormone epinephrine mobilizes fats from your adipose stores which then circulate as free fatty acids. This fat source and carbohydrates are used more extensively during mild to moderate activity. During recovery from exercise the predominate fuel source is fat.
The actual aerobic fuels you use do depend on your training, your diet before and during the activity, the intensity and duration of the activity, your circulating levels of insulin and the degree of activity that your body is used to. For example when beginning a new activity you may require more carbohydrates than when you are more sports specific fit. If you swim and then take up cycling as well, then you may require carbs to begin with until your body becomes efficient and more fit in this activity.
I have more information if anyone is interested.
