So I just started working out and I found that far too often when I’m about to leave and head to the gym my blood sugars are quite low. So then I have to eat something before I go but then I get pains while working out since I just ate, or I just end up skipping the gym all together because by the time my bs is up its to late.
So my question is, do any of you have to deal with this and if so do you have any pointers? Is there any sort of snack bar you recommend that’s not filling to where it would just help raise my BS a little? I’m trying to make sure I check it about an hour before I go so that way it give me some time after if I need to eat something, but for the days when I just need something quick a bar of some sort would be perfect.
I also make sure to set a temporary basal before I head out so I don’t get too low during the workout, but that doesn’t help with my first problem.
Maybe test an hour before the gym and of you are too low, set your temp basal for off to let your sugars rise without food. Then you can adjust your temp basal again for the workout.
If you are regularly "quite low," you may need to take a look at your basal rates overall. Your body doesn't know that you're about to go exercise, so even if you weren't going to go exercise, you'd be low at that time, and you just notice it because you're doing a pre-exercise check. Perhaps once you've gotten the basal rate nailed down, you would not have the issue?
I'd agree with cutting back on insulin if you do end up low before exercise. That way, you wouldn't load your digestive system with any work to do prior to exercise, but you could keep your BS from dipping more.
I will again suggest dropping your basal up to two hours before you’re going to workout. If I remember correctly basal changes take about a half hour to an hour to show in your blood sugars anyway. Also, if you are exercising the day before these incidents occur, it could be a residual effect of the exercise from the day before. Exercise can continue to affect your BS up to 24 hours or even longer after exercise.
To that end I might suggest watching your blood sugars for an entire 24 hour period after exercise and maybe reduce your basal by 5-10% for the rest of the day after you exercise, which could help have a preventative effect against these pre-exercise lows. Sadly, it’s a whole lot of ‘calculated guesswork’ and everyone’s body is different, but you’ll find what works for you!
This is one of the super great things about the Omnipod (or any pump for that matter). You can to a temp basal of much lower. I have a pre-set of 30% lower for when I feel like I might run low due to activity. That way I don't have to eat anything. The old school MDI method of treating low BG was eating. With a pump, you don't always have to do that. Sometimes you might have to, but instead now you can just lower you basal for an hour or two and be that much better off. YMMV of course, so be sure to talk to your doc/educator first before trying such actions.
I also started working out again after years of doing not much. Signed up for a boot camp (pretty intense) its in the evenings so what I do is eat my supper about 1 hour prior to leaving and I only bolus for half the carbs I’m eating I also reduce my basal rate by 50% for 2hours. This has been working pretty good for me.
Need to take charge of the basal rate. Novolog may last 3 hours in the blood stream, so please do lower your basal rate, temporarily, at least an hour before the work out. Lowering at the beginning of the workout just will not work in preventing an incapacitating low. Also, look at your regular basal rate(s) if you run low, regularly. I like to keep my BS high, over 150, before starting a one hour work out. I also, never travel without sugar tabs, even while jogging, I may need them so I’m able to walk home!
I check BG about an hour before exercise and only give about half of my normal correction dose or correct to 180. I turn my basal off when I start exercise and program the time according to how long I exercise. I also take glucose tabs or a GU gel if I'm on a long, strenuous hike or if I feel I'm crashing. Be aware that if you are really pushing yourself, i.e. feelin' the burn, or are breathing really hard for more than 30min., you may also experience high BG about 4 hrs. later. Basically, it takes a lot of trial and error to figure out what works for you.
To answer your question more directly, I find that the Power gels/ GU gels (found at cycling/running stores, some drug stores) are too much for everyday/ light exercise but work great for workouts (longer than an hour) that really make you sweat, cause they have electrolytes, etc. that help with recovery and cramping (especially if you're BG is high before exercise or you tend to overdo it). Also, I eat nuts, peanut butter, cottage cheese or jerky (low carb/high protein) before a workout to help mellow spikes.
When I work out I have to suspend insulin delivery while I work out to help prevent lows and have my pump settings reduced by 50% for a few hours afterwards. One trick I have found that helps me to stabilize my sugar levels is to eat a teaspoon of peanut butter or a small handful of nuts. That seems to help keep my levels a lot more stable during a workout.
This is always a good idea. The protein and good fat, combined with fiber and a bit of carb is perfect to keep your sugars slightly elevated for a longer period of time.
