Hi, Amanda, There are several things at play in what your bg is going to be during a run. We have to consider at least these things:
Exercise Exercise intensity Food, carbs, before and during the event Excitement/Adrenaline Basal Insulin Additional insulin for food/bg correction
There are more things, but you're really not giving us the full picture by saying you ran a 10K. You'll get better advice more quickly if you give more information to start with. My blood sugar doesn't usually rise for a 10K, but you may have been excited about it, and may have had adrenaline driving up your bg. Did you have anything like this happen during your training runs leading up to the race?
Re eating and races, my BG sometimes seems to run up before races. I'll correct but take cut corrections, like 1/3 the amt and then run with IOB, not my favorite scenario but, the advantage at races is that there's Gatorade stations every couple of miles which usually makes it easier to jack my BG back up when I run. I've found through running that it seems to take about 8-10G of carbs for 3ish miles so, if I'm doing a 5K, I'll have a glass of skim milk and run. 10K, I'll have something before I go and about 1/2 way. This usually works but, if I get into a flow or whatever and my BG runs down, I have something with me to snack on, pretty much always.
The other thing I do before races is to try to eat pretty early, like 4-5AM for an 8:00 AM start. That gives time to get most of the insulin cleared out. It's always a weird time of day with DP and adrenaline going on so it pays to test a lot although I "cheat" as I have a CGM which is also very handy. I've run into a couple of other D runners and seen them run their BG up to 300 and just plan to "run it off" but I don't do that, ever. In Chicago 2012, I ran up because I was low before the race (opposite of what I just said...), ate some stuff (luna bars, 110 at 3 miles, had gatorade and then my BG was high (up up up to peak at 190ish on my CGM, the line is on my Tu homepage here...) for like the next 15 miles or so, when it finally broke I blew it and full dosed, instead of cutbolusing for the Gu packet so then the last 8ish miles were exciting and I had most of the fuel stops to cover the insulin. I finished at 68 or 73 or something but they had carby 312 beer and potato chips so I was ok with that too. The best thing to do to find out is to test and correct but don't do full corrections if you're high and running. Run a few miles and test again. It's easy to get caught up in chasing time and not wanting to slow down to test but it will make you a stronger and, maybe more important, smoother runner so you can have a better race. It's funny at the end of the race when you slow to test spectators go "c'mon run you can do it..." but then you pull out a meter and they're like "oh..."
Oh, geez, how could I forget, the other thing I got (from Jerry...) that's been really helpful in all this is Race Ready shorts! They have a mesh pocket that will hold a OneTouch Ultra Mini for 26.2 miles easily (I got close to 27 from wandering around in lanes once...). There's also a bunch of other pockets that are awesome for holding keys, Gu, little bags of jelly beans, and other stuff to have. Ideally, I don't dip into my stash of carbs and just use the race's stuff but it's good to have along extra, just in case.
Hi everyone! I've been a stranger. I am reading recent posts now. Your all inspiring. I took a break from running after Chicago in October. My knee has a "Falling appart" feeling and was told to rest it for 8-12 WEEKS! ugh. I go back to the ortho Monday morning to see what is next. I just ran my 3rd 5k in 10 days on the treadmil and a slower pace and so far so good. I did gain about 10 lbs. since the marathon as well. I feel great and look forward to getting back in as the weather clears soon. What a winter we've had. So, keep it up everyone. I look forward to participating more. Thanks
Thanks acidrock23 for the great info on eating and races! Do you usually eat and bolus at 4-5 AM when you train early? I usually run early evenings and my usual tactics don't work for long 8:00 AM runs. I know I need to test when I run, but I hate stopping to do it.
I'm not a huge fan of early starts. The group I've trained with starts at 6:30 AM on Saturdays. Maybe I don't like going but I do like being done early! It's probably back there somewhere but it's too complicated to get it done early. I've finished as high as 7th in my age group in various races but generally, a couple seconds won't kill you but hypo, well, you're putting yourself in the hands of whoever's around at the race. I'd work on getting a way to lug your meter. If what you have is to big, the One Touch Ultra Mini is awesome!
Hi all. Acidrock, any suggestions on what to eat after a run, but when I eat too many carbs after a run, I still go to 140.., so then I feel like I Need to run again to come down.
I"m back in the game. After taking the holidays off letting my knee and foot heal a little. I was told I can run if I promise to stretch for a while before and after. I have some tendonitis in my Knee and my achilles. My Dr. said it doesn't matter if I run or not they both need to be conditioned better. I start some therapy this week and I am back to the treadmill waiting for warmer weather. I am reading the thread now and you guys all share some great tips. After finishing chicago in October I knpow I can get in the swing of things again. Have a good weekend.
Hi all, Iām training for a marathon with a Dexcom G4 and periodically lose signal when I am running. I wear the receiver on a belt under my top layer (I run in cold NE temps) to try to avoid interference. But Iāve also lost signal when running on treadmill with nothing covering receiver or transmitter (i.e., no possible clothing interference). It regains signal 20-30 min after I stop activity. Anyone else experience this? Any suggestions for how to avoid?
Hi MAS - All the best to you in your training for the marathon. You are not alone with complaints regarding the G4 reception while running and racing. This is one of the reasons for the recommendation of not depending solely on the CGM for glucose management. Carry a BG monitor and learn how best to use it during your training runs. Having (and using) a bg meter with you during the marathon is a critical part of my training and racing success. Keep in mind that radio interference is usually responsible for the gap in communication from the transmitter to the receiver and these "waves" are invisible so you are powerless in your efforts to avoid them. Moisture from both sweat and environment may also interfere with the signal at the contacts between the sensor and the transmitter. don't be afraid of taking the transmitter out of the sensor and wiping the contacts off. Be sure to re-insert the transmitter quickly and securely. Hopefully, the next generation system from Dexcom will improve the reliability factor of the signal. Maybe Blue-tooth to my smart-phone would be a final fix for these types of issues.
How old is the transmitter? The G4 is supposed to last about 8 months compared to a year for the older System Seven transmitter. I have a G4 about 8 months old and the receiver will occasionally lose connection but usually reconnect if I move it to a pocket closer to the transmitter.
I started using the G4 last summer and ran many (sweaty!) miles in New Orleans heat and humidity without that affecting the connection...but it was new then.
The only good way I can think of to check whether it is RFI (radio frequency interference) is to find a quiet rural route to run a few times and see what happens.
RE: Strategies for training and racing - Glucose supplementation while training I usually follow the 20/20 rule meaning every 20 minutes I try to consume ~20 gram Carbs - Adjustment to basal rate depends on many factors such as how hard I ran the day(s) prior and starting trend of glucose. Most often, a training run of over 40 minutes will require a reduction of 10% to 50%. A training run of 45 to 120 minutes will require a 30% to 70%. Racing any distance shorter than 8k requires an increase of my basal rate as the intensity of the max VO2 will send me into fight or flight mode which increase my glucose level. Prior to a marathon or half marathon, I usually raise my basal rate until 90 minutes prior to start due to tapering (resting) several days leading up and nerves which push me into a flight or fight mode. YMMV and I recommend using strategies offered by many other experience T1D athletes and developing your own plan based on your own experience. Great book is from Sheri Colberg: The Diabetic Athletes Handbook: www.shericolberg.com/diabetic-athletes-handbook.asp
There is a group of Type 1 runners planning to run the Key West Half & 5k called Team CWD. The race date is January 18, 2015 and the website is: www.keywesthalfmarathon.com . I signed up last month and there is a growing number of T1D runners joining the group. They have a FB page so if interested, check it out. These are thetype of events that the greatest diabetes memories are taken from.
Thanks for the input, John P and Bill. Just started on CGM in Dec, so all the gear is pretty new still. I got the CGM for overnight lows, so the use for training is really a bonus. I always run with a meter, but really like the directional input from the CGM because my BG during long runs is consistently inconsistent. I was told athletic clothing material might be part of the interference problem, but not getting same results twice with same clothing. Maybe need more time of trial and error. Thanks for tip on quick clean of transmitterā¦did know that was a possibility.
MAS -- Where are you wearing the transmitter? I've been using it on my arms (with the receiver attached to my waistband) and have not had trouble, even with more layers in the winter. I also keep the receiver on the same side as the transmitter, just to keep the mass of my body out of the way of the signal.
If all else fails, call Dexcom support. They might have some idea of what is happening including the possibility that your new receiver and/or transmitter could be defective.
Are there any type 2 Diabetics out there reading my comment who only use diet and exercise? That's what I do and I need some advice on carbs. I run/walk and then my number is low around 90 after working out, and then I get hungry so I eat some carbs and it goes to 140 and sometimes take 3 hours to come back to 90.. So, I end up walking again after eating to keep it at 90 etc.. A never ending cycle. What carbs can I eat after a workout that won't make me shoot up to 140? ideas? Can someone contact me about this? :)
MarathonMan, I am a type 2 but I take insulin. what I eat is a flaxseed pita sandwich and a protien shake (with soy milk) helps with the starvation mode that happens. the flaxseed pita has about 4 carbs in in it 8 total I like it with chicken lunchmeat,colby cheese and a salad mix.. I will also say I am a slow.. (18 min miles)I have been doing this for the last 6 mins and feel so much better now then I did. i also dont eat the house when I get done running.
Ok thanks Wayna, for now I'm just diet and exercise and by limiting carbs, I keep my daily fasting under 100 and my spikes under 140. But after intense exercise, the pull for carbs gets me. So, what I have been doing is just test frequently after eating so I can go for another supplemental walk to lower it again.
Thanks for tip on quick clean of transmitterā¦did know that was a possibility.