Hello All. I'm currently experimenting with P90X, Insanity and several different workout programs. For months my blood sugars raise sharply when performing these. Even weight lifting but not to same level as a all intense exercise. I'm curious how many of you manage to perform highly intense exercises while managing your BGs. I can be normal and see spikes after working out for 30 minutes of 100 to 150 points sometimes more. It seems very difficult to bring down and take hours. In the beginning I just thought I was having generic management issues. Now I know it is related to exercise.
What are your experiences? Should diabetics stay away from these exercises? I love lifting weights and the new intense regimes. If not, what are some of the ways you can manage and prevent the highs? I heard of diabetics giving themselves boluses before exercises. Seems very scary but maybe the new reality.
Normally, I would go hypo with exercise but just would be for generic cardio. I would eat a snack before this type of exercise.
In Gratitude,
Flynn S
I had to stop lifting weights and only do cardio - the weight lifting was causing highs and treating those highs caused severe lows. Sorry to inform - stopping lifting weights put things back into an easier mode. Walking, bike riding, tennis - no longer after numerous shoulder injuries, and elliptical machines, swimming - have kept muscle tone without the weights. Sorry this was never figured out but had the same situation. Funny, a doctor told me about diabetics and lifting weights - hadn't figured out myself this was the culprit.
Its the intensity of the workout, I think. This is tricky and I am still in the process of figuring out high intensity exercise. I've been working on this problem for about three years. When I really started skiing with my heart (backwoods downhill), it required higher endurance. I do not consistently get high when I ski, but a couple hours in, I frequently jump 200-300 points. My Doc says it helps to make sure your properly hydrated walking into it. I speculate that its related to adrenaline production because when I'm having a lot of fun and really skiing like I mean it, it seems to spike. I have tried comparing bs reaction between downhill and x-country. X-country has a unique characteristic of dropping me 50 points in 15 - 20 min, although this doesn't happen reliably and sometimes I spike 20 min in. This is some of the most difficult diabetic problem solving that I have faced and I am curious to know more about what you observe. Sorry, I can't be more help. Cute puppy dog!
P.s. I do believe that, although, it may spike in the short term, I am prone to delayed lows that may occur up to three days later. Its sorta like waiting for the bomb to drop. I think the exercise decreases my insulin requirements for, at least, a few days. Once, for ski patrol, they made us climb the hill with our skis on. I was initially high, but about 6 hours later, I dropped like a rock and called 911 on myself before I passed out. That is when I really, finally understood why diabetics weren't allowed to join the army. I find the effects of high intensity exercise to be pretty unpredictible.
