Recently stopped my exercise /runningdue to dental work and a extra week of being sick. About 20 days of not working out. I walk at my job 5 miles a day. Monday- Friday. So I get my 10k steps in. I’m on metformin 500 morning / 1000 night. Was recently granted permission to reduce metformin by 500 with my exercise regime. My BS went from fasting 90s to 120s so quickly . I ran 3.5 miles today so hopefully bs will come back down. Running seems to really drop my mid day sugars. Is any one else a runner with type 2?
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Hello John!
My name is Joanne and I am a clinical exercise physiologist I’ve given video chats on this site highlighting the importance of engaging in regular physical activity to manage one’s type 2 diabetes. I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed reading your post and learning about your success with engaging in physical activity to manage your blood glucose levels.
Well done and all the best to you!
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i’m, a type-1 runner,.
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type one runner : )
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My sugars spike overnight and low during early afternoon. I exercise in the mornings. Any hints on what to eat before a 7-10 mile run . Or what to eat drink during that run? I seem to really drop after that. Thanks
I am technically prediabetic (insulin resistant) per my doctor and my meter. I manage completely with a Low Carb High Fat diet (two years now). I am not taking any meds and am trying hard to avoid them since I also have celiac disease. I run 3.5 miles three times a week, swim, teach two aerobics classes and ride 40 to 50 miles on my bike per ride per week. I load up on coffee with coconut oil and cream. Three eggs with plenty of butter and either some Greek Yogurt and Heavy Cream, salmon or bacon. I can usually last on this for a long time. I snack on peanutbutter packet or nuts and drink Nuun for hydration and water. I function well and I do not lose steam.
I have always exercised prior to my insulin resistance (I have always been thin). It has been my diet that has helped. I think I would have been a full-blown diabetic much sooner despite my being so active.
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Bs was 113 after the 5 miles / 47 minutes of working out. Some would say this is good. I don’t know if my liver is dumping sugar or not. This afternoon I’ll be low. I have broken out my breakfast /snack /lunch into 6 small snacks , eating about every hour. Trying to see if this will prevent the afternoon lows. Thanks again for all your comments
John, I would need to know what you are eating during the day. Too, I am assuming that the doctor has prescribed metformin? Are you taking it in the manner your physician says take it. I believe the spikes you have overnight pertain to the liver dumping glucose into your blood stream to keep you alive overnight. Are you eating complex carbs.
Also, weight training is your friend. Gain muscle, it is a storage site for glucose.
Best,
Jo
Hey Cyclinglady,
Please, please, please, protect your muscle tissue. It is a storage site for glucose. The more muscle tissue you have the better the body works at removing glucose from the body when you are at rest.
Resistance training is important for people living with diabetes!
Best,
Jo
John789,
I wouldn’t know whether your liver is dumping glucose either, however, if you are taking your medication in the manner your physician directed, the metformin should control that. Metformin works on the liver.
Good to know metformin works on the liver. I try to do resistance training 3 days a week. Running 3 other days. Speed , tempo and distance. I agree we need more muscle to burn more glucose . I have an active health care job where I am lifting patients and moving about the exam rooms. My snacks avg 20g carbs . My Go to snacks are yogurt , nuts, string cheese, nature valley sweet and salty peanut bar. My Lunch avg 40-60 carbs. I Try to eat a big basic salad with dressing, sometimes cheese and meat. If no cheese/ meat, I’ll have yogurt. Drink about 100 oz of water in 8 hour shift. Dinner is sensible with a salad every night. We limit starchy vegetables. Overall I think carb wise I’m pretty strict to the 60 gram level.
Hello John789,
Are you taking the metformin as directed? If you are and still experiencing fasting highs I would definitely speak to my physician about that.
Best,
Jo
My md knows. I’ve gone from fasting 300 to fasting 100s super quick in a few short months with metformin and large amounts of exercise that I was unable to due to injury. We adjusted medicine some so far . Just trying to get a balance going .
John789,
That is #AWESOME!!!
Check your BG nightly to be sure are within range. Take metformin, have fun while exercising. I have confidence you will be successful!!!
#BETHEMAN
8))))
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Type 2 here. I just started the couch 25k program. Not necessarily a runner yet, but… hello 
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Zenjess, I am currently training for a 10 mile in May and contemplating a half marathon later in the year. Going to do a slow 10 miler this weekend. Plan to be using Gatorade sparingly along the way and see how the blood sugars go. Good luck on your 25k program. I hear couch to 25k is a great training schedule.
&&&& running update &&&&&
Ran 10 mile training run today. Pace was medium . Heart avg 136. Took 5 walking breaks. At those breaks, I sipped a 20oz , 20 carb Gatorade. After I finished, I checked bs and was 87. It was really low but was a fasting (other than the Gatorade) and I just ran for a hour forty minutes. Legs got heavier at 8.5 miles but that was endurance related more than blood sugar. I never felt like I was bonking but will def increase the amount to maybe 50 oz . Keep running out there!
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Ran my second 10 mile run in as many weeks today using Gatorade sips at the projected water points for upcoming race. Seems to be working well. At the end, I felt like I exerted a lot but not wiped out. Mostly in the legs. Fasting Blood sugar was 116 this am before exercise. This probably due to the pizza last night but we all knew that would be the effect this am. Hours later after ample snack my blood sugar is 120. (Within limits) happy with that. I changed meters recently to verio one touch. So I am learning to deal with this “free meter” . It rates my levels higher than my previous meter. New Insurance doesn’t cover my prior test strips anymore.
@John789 Wonderful!!!
Here’s some tips! In the world of exercise physiology, there is something called the SAID principle. SAID is the acronym for Specific Adaptations to Imposed Demands. In a nutshell the body will adapt to the stressors to which is it is exposed.
You mentioned that your legs were tired. We called that localized fatigue in exercise phys world. What you can do to get you legs strong in an endurance kind of way is to engage in resistance training for endurance outcomes.
What do I mean???
Light weights high reps. It teaches the muscular system to use aerobic glycolysis more effectively and your legs won’t tire out so quickly.
I hope this is helpful to you.
#KEEPONTRUCKING
Jo
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Type 2 runner just wanted to join the conversation. I have not found too many T2 runners. Just passed the 7 year anniversary of diagnosis A1c 12.0.
Current A1c 5.6 diet and exercise only. And just turned 70! Oh my that was a shock. I try to run a 5K or 10K each month, and glad to say at least competitive in my age group. The only info I can add right now is about carb consumption while running. I use Cliff Blocks 8 carbs a peice about one a mile. They don’t seem to spike my BS as much as others do. I have seen other T2s recommend them.
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