Hey all -- I started running about a year ago (roughly a year after diagnosis) and have loved seeing my distances increase as I push myself farther. (Fasting BG levels have come down, too, with less medication!)
So I signed up and am training for a half-marathon next month (the Oregon Wine Country Half Marathon). The training is going well, and I'm confident I can finish the 13.1-mile run within the cutoff time required by the organizers. (I did say I'm a runner. I did NOT say I'm fast. :-)
My question involves race day. All the advice I can find on marathons and diabetes addresses type 1, specifically on how much (or little) insulin to take before the start. I don't take insulin, so that doesn't help me much.
Second, I regularly experience the adrenaline reaction -- that is, my BG tends to go UP after an hour of running (usually only a few points) as my body releases more fuel for the endurance. So I doubt I'll experience a hypo reaction -- which means I shouldn't have to worry about refueling during the run. (I haven't had a hypo on a run EVER, and I haven't had a hypo since quitting the glyburide about a month ago.)
At present I'm planning the following:
1 - have more carbs than usual for dinner the night before, shooting for a fasting BG of 110-120 (I work to keep it between 95 and 105)
2 - have a decent but not extreme breakfast an hour or so before the run (20-25g carbs, 10g protein)
3 - manage hydration during the run (currently thinking coconut water for electrolytes and modest carb content)
I'd love to hear from other T2 long-distance runners or cyclists -- basically, anybody who regularly exercises for 2 to 3 hours with a heart rate over 140, and let me know if there are any holes in my day-of-the-race plan.
Thanks!
--Scott Fisher
Tualatin, Oregon