I exercise several times a week. This exercise is quite intense and includes cardiovascular and weight-bearing exercises. I've found that my blood sugar increases, from about 6.8 to 8 or 9 mmol /ml (126- 162 mg/dl) following the exercise. I understand that this could be a stress repines resulting in my liver 'dumping' sugar into the blood stream. Does anyone have any advice on how to prevent the increase in blood sugar ? Should I be concerned about this short period of raised blood sugar ?
I'm on 200omg metformin plus 1.2ml Victoza (+ simvastatin). Since starting Victoza about 2 months ago my blood sugar is generally under 7.0 mmol/ml. I'm due to have my HbA1c retested in the New Year (previous test was 7.6)
Just one suggestion for the moment. Consider a small carby snack mid-exercise. Take a minute off to replenish your energy stocks at that time; that may stop the liver dump. Also test at that time to see what is happening.
Depending on how long after a meal you exercise a small snack before commencing may also help.
Cheers, Alan, T2, Australia. Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter.
Thanks for the suggestion. I will try the small snack suggestion - maybe a 'Sport's energy drink ? Or more complex carbohydrate ? I try and have a snack 1-2 hours before exercising although it is difficult to know how much to eat. best wishes
Probably best if someone who exercises more strenuously than I answers that. My opinion is that a sports drink would give a quick but short-lasting spike and a more complex carb would be better. But as I only do "lazy man's exercise" I'm probably the wrong advisor :)
Cheers, Alan, T2, Australia. Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter.
I weight lift. Heavy weights. Squats and that sort of thing. Before I started insulin, I could go to the gym with a perfect blood sugar and by the time I finished, I would be over 200 mg/dl. As long as you don't go too high (> 250 mg/dl) and your blood sugar comes down within an hour or so of your training, then don't worry about it. You don't go to the gym to fix your immediate blood sugar readings, you go to make yourself more insulin sensitive and healthier overall.
As to why your blood sugar rises, it is often from two factors. FIrst the release of hormones from intensive (usually anaerobic) exercise causes you liver to release glucose and second, if you are diabetic, you probably don't produce as much insulin as you need. Since starting insulin, I've found my blood sugar problems during exercise are greatly reduce, I'll still go up to 150 mg/dl, but not over 200 mg/dl like I used to see.
Thanks for the advice - I will monitor my blood sugar after exercise and also try a small snack half way through - see if that helps. It is reassuring to hear that as long as blood sugar doesn't go above 250mg/dl then it will be OK.
Before I started insulin, I could go to the gym with a perfect blood sugar and by the time I finished, I would be over 200 mg/dl. As long as you don't go too high (> 250 mg/dl) and your blood sugar comes down within an hour or so of your training, then don't worry about it.
Do you have a source for that reassuring information, or is that a statement of opinion?
Cheers, Alan, T2, Australia. Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter.
The best sources of advice on these matters is Sheri Colberg, she has a good book, "The Diabetic Athlete's Handbook." She has a good explanation the differences between the effects of aerobic and anaerobic exercise on your blood sugar and why. She also has quite an extensive range of resources and articles on her website.
As to the specific guidance on exercise, the guideline to not exercise above 250 mg/dl is widely recommended. Exercising with a highly elevated blood sugar places you at increasaed DKA risk. I actually specifically asked the Diabetes Exercise and Sports Association (DESA) and Sheri Colberg about my situation but never received a response. When I talked with my endo, he provided me with an opinion that I should not worry about it. But in all honesty, I did worry. My blood sugar often did not come down for hours. In the end, I had to conclude that I was insulin deficient. Having a basal insulin has changed things around. Not only do I not spike badly during exercise, I am down to a normal fasting within an hour after exercise.
I was aware of the advice on care when exercising if blood glucose levels are over 250-300; it's one of the cautions I include in my own book. However, that warning is usually intended for people at that high level before commencing or continuing exercise.
What I am not in agreement with is "As long as you don't go too high (> 250 mg/dl) and your blood sugar comes down within an hour or so of your training, then don't worry about it." That is quite different, implying that reaching 250 during exercise is OK provided levels return quickly to normal.
The studies you will read below, some of which are not cited in the AACE guidelines, make a cogent case that post-meal blood sugars of 140 mg/dl (7.8 mmol/L) and higher and fasting blood sugars over 100 mg/dl (5.6 mmol/L) cause permanent organ damage and cause diabetes to progress.
As a type 2 in good control, if my BGs go over 8(144) at any time for any reason I investigate the cause to try to ensure it doesn't happen again very often. If they go near 11(200) I would be very concerned and investigate more deeply. I have rarely seen them over 10(180) since my first year of diagnosis.
That is why I would want a rather more specific and scientific source before I could accept either of these statements:
As long as you don't go too high (> 250 mg/dl)
and (if)
your blood sugar comes down within an hour or so of your training, then don't worry about it
I disagree with 250 as an acceptable peak and with the rapid return to normal as a reason for unconcern. Cheers, Alan, T2, Australia. Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter.
I've eaten more before exercising this week and found that my blood sugar was not too high at the end (7.5 mmol/ml, which is about 130mg/dl). I'm going to keep monitoring this but hopefully I've found an answer to the high blood sugar I was experiencing post-exercise.
