Is there anyone out there that can say something about maintaining blood sugar levels during OW swims? I am only a type II (no longer on insulin) diabetic and my only problem (so far) is my sugar level dropping such that I start having problems. Mainly with the brain getting fuzzy and that results in poor decision making.
Diabetes is a very complex diesease as I'm sure you have come to realize. It is not a simple problem of ingesting a certain number of carbs to hold your BG level where you want it or to arrive at a particular level. Your body makes sugar during times you are not eating, its called gluconeogenisis and is responsible for most of your fasting glucose level. It may be that because of the type II diabetes your liver may not be producing glucose sufficiently using this pathway, leaving your body to use the ingested available carbohydrates. Glycogen stores in your muscle and liver could also be affected and could contribute to falling circulating BG during exercise. I'm sure you have heard it before but be very carefull and test often during exercise until you are very comfortable. I would rather read about a lot of useless testing than a serious problem.
Please keep posting I think this journey you have started would be very helpfull and encouraging to many other diabetics who may be working out the same issues as you but not willing to do so openly.
Willie
Diabetes is a very complex diesease as I'm sure you have come to realize. It is not a simple problem of ingesting a certain number of carbs to hold your BG level where you want it or to arrive at a particular level. Your body makes sugar during times you are not eating, its called gluconeogenisis and is responsible for most of your fasting glucose level. It may be that because of the type II diabetes your liver may not be producing glucose sufficiently using this pathway, leaving your body to use the ingested available carbohydrates. Glycogen stores in your muscle and liver could also be affected and could contribute to falling circulating BG during exercise. I'm sure you have heard it before but be very carefull and test often during exercise until you are very comfortable. I would rather read about a lot of useless testing than a serious problem.
Please keep posting I think this journey you have started would be very helpfull and encouraging to many other diabetics who may be working out the same issues as you but not willing to do so openly.
Willie
