Type 2 Diabetes‎

NeuroticVirgo

Hi, I have a friend that just started working out with me. She has type 2, so is planning to do low carb vs watching calories. One thing I noticed is she is really worried about her sugars because they get low when we work out. (They are not like pass out low, just lower than she is used too). Does anyone have advice about keeping sugar levels normal while losing weight, did you have to change your insulin dosage often etc? Is there a average like go to the doctor every 20lbs lost etc. to get evaluated? She just barely got her sugars at a normal level with new meds (were to high for a long time) but she is deathly scared of them getting low, and these new ones keep her around 100-120 no matter what she eats. I just don't want to see this discourage her as she's already said a few times her sugar levels are more important than losing weight, so I know if they get wonky she will stress out and quit. Looking for advice from people who have been there. We both have 100+ to lose.

Branstin

Is she working with a specialist?

NeuroticVirgo

Sort of. We live in a more rural area, and the the specialist that is here 24/7 is just someone who was trained for that position, and she has described them as more of a general dietitian than a diabetes specialist. She hasn't had a very good experience with them. The doctor she sees specifically for her diabetes is only here 1 day a month because they travel from out of town, so normally she just sees her primary unless she is having major issues.

vismal

She really needs to see a registered dietitian. She has a medical condition and should seek specialized advice, not what people on the internet say. Also, even if she does go low carb she still needs to count calories. Carb intake will certainly affect her diabetes, but simply limiting carbs will not cause weight loss if calories are not in check. If you eat enough protein and fat, even if carbs are near zero, you will not lose weight. A caloric deficit is always needed to lose weight over the long term.

Branstin

Even if the specialist is out of town, he should be available by phone. She needs to call him right away. I don't understand the reason she wasn't given a plan to follow for that sort of thing when she was first diagnosed with T2D.

Branstin

Here is some infromation for her:

http://www.diabetes.org/

amberj32

Hi, I have a friend that just started working out with me. She has type 2, so is planning to do low carb vs watching calories. One thing I noticed is she is really worried about her sugars because they get low when we work out. (They are not like pass out low, just lower than she is used too). Does anyone have advice about keeping sugar levels normal while losing weight, did you have to change your insulin dosage often etc? Is there a average like go to the doctor every 20lbs lost etc. to get evaluated? She just barely got her sugars at a normal level with new meds (were to high for a long time) but she is deathly scared of them getting low, and these new ones keep her around 100-120 no matter what she eats. I just don't want to see this discourage her as she's already said a few times her sugar levels are more important than losing weight, so I know if they get wonky she will stress out and quit. Looking for advice from people who have been there. We both have 100+ to lose.

I'm also a type 2 diabetic. She should watch calories and carbs. Mine get low when I work out also. Usually if I'm at the gym longer than one hour. I lift weights 3 times a week, nonlifting days I do 30-60 minutes cardio, lifting days usually only 20 minutes cardio(AFTER I lift). Make sure she brings her meter with her to the gym. Also, some glucose tablets if she goes too low. Take 4. You can buy them at Walmart. They are cheap. I go to the gym after I eat dinner so I have to make sure I have a little more carbs with dinner or I go too low. She will have to try different things to see what works for her.

When I go low I get super sweaty (hard to tell at the gym since you are already sweaty), shaky and I just don't feel right. Test where ever you need to on the elliptical (which I have done), anywhere. I get all worried when mine goes low too. I probably overreact since I've only had diabetics since April. I had to run out to the car to get my meter when I didn't bring mine in with me. Don't do that because I could have passed out in the parking lot and it might be a while before anyone notices. I do go to the gym with my daughter (20yo) just in case. A few times I've gone alone but I sometimes I worry because no one at the gym would know what to do if I pass out.

But tell her - DO NOT QUIT!!! It's helping me to lose weight (started with 111 lbs to lose, 77 to go) and it brings down my blood sugar naturally, less meds. You guys can friend me. I'm no expert and I know everyone is different.

Peloton73

Diabetes is very finicky so most of us T2's all have varied nuances in our treatment from figuring out how we react to the foods we eat. Same thing with our sugars after exercise. For instance, I know that I can eat a protein with 3g of sugar 2 hours before cycling and after an hour of cycling I'm usually at 75-80.

I would like to add that when looking for a dietician, look for one who specializes in helping diabetics. Just like medical specialists, not all dietician's are the same.

For me, 100-120 is not very low. Quite honestly, unless it's within an hour of eating, if I see 110 or higher I'm freaking.

No_Finish_Line

Hi, I have a friend that just started working out with me. She has type 2, so is planning to do low carb vs watching calories. One thing I noticed is she is really worried about her sugars because they get low when we work out. (They are not like pass out low, just lower than she is used too). Does anyone have advice about keeping sugar levels normal while losing weight, did you have to change your insulin dosage often etc? Is there a average like go to the doctor every 20lbs lost etc. to get evaluated? She just barely got her sugars at a normal level with new meds (were to high for a long time) but she is deathly scared of them getting low, and these new ones keep her around 100-120 no matter what she eats. I just don't want to see this discourage her as she's already said a few times her sugar levels are more important than losing weight, so I know if they get wonky she will stress out and quit. Looking for advice from people who have been there. We both have 100+ to lose.

they seem like pretty specialized questions you should probably ask a dr. certainly wouldnt' recommend changing insluin doses without that.

whovian67

you need medical advice for that one.. hypoglycemia is nothing to take lightly... Keep sugars consistent and watch the glycemic index of foods eaten... fiber/legumes complex carbs keep body fueled...that's just a blurb.. get MD advice.. I am closely monitored by my MD every month and meds were frequently adjusted..

GlucernaBrand

It's fantastic that you and your friend are exercising together, and she's right to be cautious about developing low blood sugar levels. Gary Scheiner's book "Think Like a Pancreas" is an excellent resource. She'll also benefit by regularly testing blood sugar levels before and after exercise so she knows more specifically how exercise affects her. The American Diabetes Association also has information on exercise and diabetes at www.diabetes.org in the food and fitness section. Staying in touch with her physician, especially if she starts having low blood sugars, is also key. ~Lynn /Glucerna

cw106

Hi, I have a friend that just started working out with me. She has type 2, so is planning to do low carb vs watching calories. One thing I noticed is she is really worried about her sugars because they get low when we work out. (They are not like pass out low, just lower than she is used too). Does anyone have advice about keeping sugar levels normal while losing weight, did you have to change your insulin dosage often etc? Is there a average like go to the doctor every 20lbs lost etc. to get evaluated? She just barely got her sugars at a normal level with new meds (were to high for a long time) but she is deathly scared of them getting low, and these new ones keep her around 100-120 no matter what she eats. I just don't want to see this discourage her as she's already said a few times her sugar levels are more important than losing weight, so I know if they get wonky she will stress out and quit. Looking for advice from people who have been there. We both have 100+ to lose.

she needs to see a diabetes doc or specialist asap.
as a type 2 diabetic here in the uk,i get excellent medical advice.
the symptoms you mention sound more like a type 1 insulin dependant diabetic, who really needs a full check up if they dont know how to monitor/control.
type 2 just need to medicate daily,eat well and exercise.iam on the way to curtailing my diabetes to become pre- diabetic this way.
good luck.

Lefty634

She needs her numbers lower that is the goal. In my experience your body will adjust to a new normal reading but it takes awhile. Do not stop working out but tell her to keep coke, pepsi OJ or glucose tablets with her while working out. Even if you dont need it you feel more comfortable having them near by i keep coke in my truck and in my house it is medicine for me. I rarely need it but I get nervous not having it near by. I don't usually go low lifting but I will with cardio so you might have to try to include both into a workout to avoid lows.

andibenoit

Hi, I have a friend that just started working out with me. She has type 2, so is planning to do low carb vs watching calories. One thing I noticed is she is really worried about her sugars because they get low when we work out. (They are not like pass out low, just lower than she is used too). Does anyone have advice about keeping sugar levels normal while losing weight, did you have to change your insulin dosage often etc? Is there a average like go to the doctor every 20lbs lost etc. to get evaluated? She just barely got her sugars at a normal level with new meds (were to high for a long time) but she is deathly scared of them getting low, and these new ones keep her around 100-120 no matter what she eats. I just don't want to see this discourage her as she's already said a few times her sugar levels are more important than losing weight, so I know if they get wonky she will stress out and quit. Looking for advice from people who have been there. We both have 100+ to lose.

Low-ish carb AND watching calories will help keep her sugars in range and lose weight... She should keep her glucometer with her and emergency sugars (whether in the form of a sugary soda or glucose tables) with her when she works out. This all depends how low she's thinking of "low" being. When I first went on insulin, I would get shaky when I got under 120 because my body had adapted to being high all the time. Now that I'm in normal ranges (and off insulin! YAY!), I don't get shaky until about 75 or so. I also agree with everyone saying she should work out a plan with a diabetes specialist.

BigGuy47

The idea of counting carbs versus calorie counting doesn't make any sense.

... even if she does go low carb she still needs to count calories. Carb intake will certainly affect her diabetes, but A caloric deficit is always needed to lose weight over the long term.

^This

And I agree with everyone saying advice from a qualified specialist is needed.

MagicalGiraffe

Type 1 here, the first few weeks of her incorperating exercise is going to be hell. Exercise affects us all differently concerning when your blood sugar drops from exercise. Also the type of exercise affects blood sugar, cardio decreases it but you can have increases with anaerobic exercise.

I suggest meticulous blood glucose testing, logging it all down in a phone app to see graphs and notice trends surrounding exercise. When I started exercise I was testing myself over ten times a day because it was such a change on my body. For me personally I found that because I tended to exercise mid afternoon, I would drop my insulin dose on my lunch injection so I would run slightly higher sugars. If she is insulin dependent then she will have a lot more flexibilty with adjustments. If I forget to adjust my insulin dose then I'll most likely have a snack when I get home- like honey on rice crackers.

whovian67

It's fantastic that you and your friend are exercising together, and she's right to be cautious about developing low blood sugar levels. Gary Scheiner's book "Think Like a Pancreas" is an excellent resource. She'll also benefit by regularly testing blood sugar levels before and after exercise so she knows more specifically how exercise affects her. The American Diabetes Association also has information on exercise and diabetes at www.diabetes.org in the food and fitness section. Staying in touch with her physician, especially if she starts having low blood sugars, is also key. ~Lynn /Glucerna

I knew eventually GlucernaBrand would pop up and have a good answer

acpgee

I agree with the other posters that she should test. It is a well known phenomenon that if your body is accustomed to running high BG, the lower spectrum of normal BG (around 4 or 4.5) can make you feel shakey, dizzy and hypoglycemic because of stress hormones. These are known as fake hypos. The standard wisdom is that if you test within the normal range but only *feel* hypoglycemic you should not treat the symptoms with sugary food or a sugar tablet.

I used to have this phenomenon when my body was accustomed to running higher BG. Since losing some weight my hba1c has returned to a normal reading of 5.0 without medication and I no longer have fake hypos while exercising.

NeuroticVirgo

She really needs to see a registered dietitian. She has a medical condition and should seek specialized advice, not what people on the internet say.

So here is the thing. She does see a doctor, but resources are limited where we are at. And I'll be honest, she is not the type to go out of town to see a specialist. She sees the one that comes here. The nurses we have and the dietitian we have are not diabetic specific, (even the "diabetic specialist" at the hospital is just a regular dietitian which she openly admits). She will of course go in as she loses weight and watch her levels, but I was looking more for advice on how she can monitor herself without feeling like her sugars all over or to help not panic about it. Like signs to look for from people with experience, things like some of the advice already given like testing before and then after workouts to see the changes. Unless she wants to drive a few hours away this is what there is to work with.

This all depends how low she's thinking of "low" being. When I first went on insulin, I would get shaky when I got under 120 because my body had adapted to being high all the time. Now that I'm in normal ranges (and off insulin! YAY!), I don't get shaky until about 75 or so. I also agree with everyone saying she should work out a plan with a diabetes specialist.

She is like this. They were having issues keeping it lower (which she admits was a lot with diet, like eating out, chips etc), and it was always up over 200 or sometimes 300. So when she gets to 110 or so she feels light headed and is uncomfortable. She is very scared of passing out. I just don't want the exercise and the dieting to make them fall into the 90's etc and have her quit because it feels to low and freaks her out.


Thank you everyone for the advice. We've done Zumba all week, and today the walking miles video (the girl who starts with an S I think). So we are hoping to repeat the again next week.

cclepew

I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes about three months ago. With diabetes, you may have doctors and nurses and dieticians and diabetes educators, but you're mostly on your own to manage the disease yourself. I test my blood sugar frequently, and have gathered a lot of info about how my body's blood sugar works in different circumstances (first thing when I wake up, right before meals, 1 and 2 hours after meals, before and after workouts, any time I don't feel quite "right", before bed).

For one, I've learned that an hour on the stationary bike at a moderate speed (my typical daily workout) burns up 50-70 mg/dL of blood sugar. My levels are still high enough that a 50-70 drop won't put me in danger of hyperglycemia (below 60). But I do test before and after each workout to make sure. In the future, once I've got my sugars under better control, I know that I will probably need to eat a carb snack before working out so my blood sugar won't go too low.

According to a few things I've read, for a person my size (5'5"- 150 lbs), one gram of carbohydrate should raise my blood sugar about 5 mg/dL. I've tested that, and it's pretty close. So based on the carb content of what I'm eating, I can predict pretty well how that food will affect me. In the future, this will help me figure out how much additional carbohydrate I will need to cover the 50-70 mg/dL blood sugar used during workouts..For the most part, blood sugar levels aren't random (though there are other factors that affect it): basically what you eat and how much activity you do have a pretty predictable effect, if you test a lot and find the patterns.

Tell your friend that her glucose meter should be her best friend (after you, of course)! My insurance will only pay for a meter with crazy expensive strips, and I go through a lot of test strips! So I bought the inexpensive Relion meter at Walmart and use that most of the time. Those strips only cost $9 for a package of 50 (compared to $60+ for 100 One Touch strips). I use the more expensive strips very sparingly, mostly to make spot checks to see if other meter is accurate. Sounds complicated. but I've improved so much just in three months that I know it works for me. Have her pick up some glucose tablets to have on hand in case of a low blood sugar emergency. And none of this should take the place of professional advice just sharing what works for me personally.