Bike riding and type 1 on a pump

Type 1 and LADA
#1

Does anyone out there bike ride for exercise? Do you ever find your blood sugars high after you ride? I have recently gotten back into bike riding and after a ride even though I may start out with a normal blood sugar of say 95-110 I will spike up to over 200 when I get back and that is riding 4-6 miles. I stay high for 4-5 hours after exercise and then end up dropping low about 6-8 hours after exercise even though I eat a low fat meal when I get back with protein, it's frustrating to get the spikes and then the lows later on. I would love anyone's feedback on how they handle this as I would like to build up to longer distances and want to keep my blood sugar under control.

Thanks,

Laura

#2

Check the Diabetic Athletes group. Check the Cycling Diabetics group.

This subject comes up all the time.

Terry

#3

Me! Me! pick Me!
It happens every time I ride…or exercise period.

What I have found works for me, is I eat before I exercise (an hour or two at least, bolus for your meal)
and then I do my workout thing and then when I am done, I give half a correction for the said high.
and sure enough, 45 minutes later I’m right back where I need to be.

1 Like
#4

Thanks for the great advice, will look for the book too!

#5

I found this old post and hope it is still okay to post on it. I came on the forum to see what I could find about this subject. Laura25, you described what happens to me perfectly. I ride 3-8 miles and I see my blood sugar rise. Today it actually rose to 200 for the first time since using cgm (3 weeks).

While riding, I watch my bg go down and my pump shuts itself off (t-slim with basal-IQ) and then when I get home I watch my bg go up. So frustrating.
Have you come up with anything that works in the last 8 years?

#6

There are a few possibilities that could be involved. Can you share details of a typical scenario?

Here are a few things that would be helpful to determine what is happening and how to fix it:

  • How hard are you exercising? Is it an easy ride? Hard intense hard? Is your heart pounding when you are done, or is it more aerobic?

  • What is your general diet like, in terms of carbs? High carb, low carb, middle carb?

  • What time do you exercise, and how long before exercise do you eat? Right away? Several hours before?

  • Do you do any basal adjustments for exercise, or just allow the pump to cut basal when your BG starts to drop?

  • How long are your rides?

  • How long does the basal get turned off?

  • Do you consume any carbs on the rides when your BG begins to drop?