BS rises when I am working my muscles
Pattie74
Posts: 85 Member
Ok, I've been a diabetic for nearly 26 years, but I still don't understand why my blood sugar shoots up when I go to Curves. I'm wondering if I need to just stick with cardiovascular exercise so this doesn't happen.
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Strenuous exercise will do that. You need a temporary increase in your insulin to cover the exercise period. Have you talked with your CDE/endo on how to dose for this? It can be trial and error so test frequently and be prepared.
Stress hormone cause the liver to dump glucose. Think fight or flight. Do not skip the strength training. It will improve your control/sensitivity in the long run.0 -
Hi there! What you're experiencing is frustrating, but normal. When you do cardiovascular exercise, your sugar will drop and when you do anaerobic exercise (weights, etc...), your sugars will go up. I don't necessarily understand the physiology behind it, but I know this to be true both from personal experience and talking with my doctor. The key is figuring out how to treat so that you'll stay at a fairly normal number before, during and after the exercise. I have a continuous glucose monitor, which really helps me to anticipate where my sugar is going so that I can treat a bit more proactively. I'm not sure if you have one or not? Wish I could tell you the perfect solution, but like everything in this disease, it's different for everyone. I tend to try to start my weight lifting exercises with my sugar between 100 - 140, whereas for cardio I need to be more like 180 - 200 in order to make it through the workout without a low. Wish I had more help for you, but I would say working with your endo and/or nutritionist would be your best starting point. Good luck!0
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I have the same issue with trying to balance my blood sugar in both weight training and aerobic activity. Below is a link to a forum discussion about this on www.diabetesdaily.com.
http://www.diabetesdaily.com/forum/articles-members/15118-why-does-exercise-increase-blood-glucose
I also want to recommend a book called "Your Diabetes Science Experiment" by Ginger Vieira. Ginger is a health and fitness coach, and a Type 1 diabetic with celiac disease. She also is a competitive weight lifter! She is very inspiring and has posted lots of funny videos on youtube.
http://www.amazon.com/Your-Diabetes-Science-Experiment-diabetes/dp/148106200X.
I haven't figured this out yet. I have a pump and CGM but it's tricky. Sometimes I have to cancel training when my sugar is too high to start with. I am learning to be patient with myself and try to grab the chance to exercise when the glucose seems to be at my most ideal. Hang in there!!0 -
By the way, Ive been living with Type 1 for 41 years and havent quite figured it out either!0
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I always do my muscles first and then I do 70 minutes on the treadmill.... Before I work out I usually eat a chocolate chip fiber one bar to counter any low I may have from the treadmill. This works perfectly and I test at about 100 after my workout.0
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Hi. I have had type 1 since I was 6. I had problems in high school playing sports and softball conditioning in the weight rooms. My endo at the time suggested my glucose levels being under 200 before i exercised. My body had adverse effects to exercise and glucose levels.
" When you exercise your muscles need more glucose to supply energy. In response, your liver increases the amount of glucose it releases into your bloodstream. Remember, however, that the glucose needs insulin in order to be used by your muscles. So if you do not have enough insulin available, your blood glucose levels can actually increase right after exercise. Basically, stimulated by the demand from your exercising muscles, your body is pouring glucose into your bloodstream. If you do not have enough insulin available to "unlock the door" to your muscles, the glucose cannot get into your muscles to provide needed energy. The end result is that glucose backs-up in your bloodstream, causing higher blood glucose readings.".0 -
I also wear an insulin pump.0
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Weird. Lifting weights can make mine go up or down, never know. Hate this disease. Same with Cardio - up or down - never know.0
