Diabetic distance runner...

Very legitimate question. But unfortunately as I don't have diabetes I can't offer you the help you need. I've been dating a Type 1 diabetic and still lots for me to learn. Just want to wish you luck! It is a process. You almost need a chemistry degree.

Good point there.

I have thought about glucose gel, glucose shots and/or powerade/gatorade...those all seem like good ideas. Biggest issue with the powerade/gatorade is you have to carry it.

My husband runs and says maybe you could use a camelbak (or any of the other brands) - although then you get sweaty-back syndrome, but that way you'd have nothing to carry.

I have a water bottle by nathansports that fits in the palm of my hand and it's great because it doesn't feel like you're carrying anything (but I only tend to run 3-4 miles).

Hope you find something that works for you

There's a great book on exercise for people with diabetes by Sheri Colberg: The Diabetic Athlete's Handbook, that I think you'll find really helpful. ~Lynn /Glucerna

Hello there. I googled "diabetes camelbak running" and guess where it landed me???

I am now going to write a novel. 8 )

I've been Type 1 (T1) since I was 13 so this disease was integrated into my life including the fitness/sports side of it. I ran a half marathon in May and got super pissed at my blood sugars (bs). I was fine the first 5 miles. I got low bs of 80 around mile 3.5 and ate a gel packs (25carbs) and ran on. I check my bs about every 1.5 miles or if its feeling high or low. My biggest issue with long distance running has been having to stop running so that I digest the carbs. My stomach wouldn't do it because I was using all my blood/energy to keep moving. So I began walking at mile 5. I ate another gel pack. A mile later I was at the aid station. I had 4 cups of watered down gatorade. Mile 7 it was still low. I was pissed and knew my time was shot so I went into a pub and slammed a Guinness and ate some pretzels. Guinness is the perfect beer when you need lots of carbs!!

A mile later it was still low. I stopped into a Methodist church who had a coffee bar and pastries and ate 2 donuts and got 3 for the road since I was out of gel packs. Around mile 10 my bs was coming up to 95 so I took off and finished. It felt good finally getting to run again and passing all the folks who were walking. I know some of them may have had health issues too but the majority didn't. I get pissed off at people sometimes when I see them not living up to what they are capable of when I try so hard to keep my bs in check and even then it can go crazy for seemingly no reason. I keep pretty tight control and my A1c is 6.2.

All us diabetics are different so take all I say below and integrate what you want and leave the rest.

WARM UP:
It sounds like you've got a bunch of insulin on board if your bs is dropping that drastically. To make sure I've got all my fast acting insulin (I use humalog) out of my system I do active warm ups. I do sprints, high knees, butt kickers, dipsy doos (shuffling sideways switching my feet back and forth) and may walk a brisk half mile. I've read several articles/medical blogs saying that you SHOULD NOT exercise with a bs over 225 because it will really do some damage having that thick sugary blood slamming thru your veins and arteries. The warm up will get your bs into range (at least less than 200) so you can get the most out of your run.

LOW BS TREATMENT:
I run with juice and gel packs.
My long acting insulin (Lantus) will drop my bs while I run. If my bs is 100-125 I'll drink 15 carbs to keep it in the sweet spot.
If its below 100 I'll have a sports gel (25carbs) to raise it into the sweet spot (ironic humor!!) and keep it there.

CARB LOADING???
Being the diabetic that I am, I don't have the luxury of carb loading with tons of pasta days before a race. I have to eat things that have nutrition facts so I can be laser focused on my bs. We are TYPE 1 diabetics and, therefore, are blessed with plenty of pis and vinegar and motivation to do our thing regardless of circumstances. I'm 6'3" and 265lbs and have a gut but I can move it around when I need to. Playing rugby the last 15 years has helped with that. It gives me great pleasure to pick a target out that I outweigh by 85lbs and run past them especially when they look like a typical streamlined runner.

I'm gonna get a marathon camelpak for a 25k trail run in February in the Ozark Mountains of northwest AR. It will be cold, icy and have 2 creek crossings. I'll keep a heavily watered down juice/water mix to drink on to keep my bs elevated throughout the race. In the front pockets I will have gel packs. Guess what'll be in the water proof shoulder pockets....my glucometer and insulin!!

Since all us wonderful Type 1's are affected in different ways by different things, you're gonna have to experiment. You're doing the right things by doing research and those articles are great. I treat my diabetes like I cook dinner. I look at 3-4 recipes for the same thing and meld them together to make what I want. Take all the info and make your own way tailored to what affects you.

You go kick that 1/2 marathon's butt. If you need to, you can listen to my life mantra song to aid your mindset:

"Its a long way to the top if you wanna rock and roll" ~~AC/DC~~

Sorry I had a lot on my mind. Plus I'm waiting on these granola bars and coffee to raise my low bs so I can go run 4-5 miles in the dark. I had to fill the time some way!!

end novel 8 )

Here is the link for the type 1 group: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/232-type-1-juvenile-diabetics