Half marathon with a pump

August 18, 2011 11:22

kid127 DAFNE Graduate
University Hospitals, Leicester 25 posts

Hi,

Has anyone had experience of running a half marathon with an insulin pump?

I was told that I should only leave my pump off for an hour at most when exercising so I will need to wear it for the 2 hours I plan to be running for but i'm not sure what to do with my doses. I was thinking of a very small trickle of insulin so there is some in my system but not enough to drop me low

I will do a couple of long distance practise runs with the pump to test but I wondered if anyone had experience or pointers to help out?

Thanks

Lee

August 18, 2011 21:40

HelenP DAFNE Graduate
Queensland Diabetes Centre, Brisbane, QLD 218 posts

Lee,

No experience but:

The "Walsh" book (Pumping Insulin) has a section on this. Info from a table on page 254 says for intense exercise (120 mins) you need an extra 110g CHO, lower your bolus by 70% and lower your basal by 30%. This carb amount is per 100lbs of body weight. There is also a bold print stating these are only estimates and must be individually adjusted through testing. A further warning said that if you have not trained you may need substantially more carbs but once you are trained you may need substantially less.

Suggest you get hold of the book. Mine came from England!

Pumping Insulin by John Walsh and Ruth Roberts (4th edition) Everything you need for Success on a Smart Insulin Pump.

Good luck. Helen

August 19, 2011 08:39

novorapidboi26 DAFNE Graduate
NHS Lanarkshire 1,819 posts

Some good advice by Helen there, you could use that information on a couple of test runs to fine tune for the big day.......

I would be taking on carbs and reducing the basal for sure though, but it seems to me like a difficult task to get right, however I dont pump currently, so am not familiar with the ins and outs........

Good luck and enjoy when the time comes......... Wink

August 18, 2011 11:22 kid127 DAFNE Graduate University Hospitals, Leicester 25 posts	Hi, Has anyone had experience of running a half marathon with an insulin pump? I was told that I should only leave my pump off for an hour at most when exercising so I will need to wear it for the 2 hours I plan to be running for but i'm not sure what to do with my doses. I was thinking of a very small trickle of insulin so there is some in my system but not enough to drop me low I will do a couple of long distance practise runs with the pump to test but I wondered if anyone had experience or pointers to help out? Thanks Lee
August 18, 2011 21:40 HelenP DAFNE Graduate Queensland Diabetes Centre, Brisbane, QLD 218 posts	Lee, No experience but: The "Walsh" book (Pumping Insulin) has a section on this. Info from a table on page 254 says for intense exercise (120 mins) you need an extra 110g CHO, lower your bolus by 70% and lower your basal by 30%. This carb amount is per 100lbs of body weight. There is also a bold print stating these are only estimates and must be individually adjusted through testing. A further warning said that if you have not trained you may need substantially more carbs but once you are trained you may need substantially less. Suggest you get hold of the book. Mine came from England! Pumping Insulin by John Walsh and Ruth Roberts (4th edition) Everything you need for Success on a Smart Insulin Pump. Good luck. Helen
August 19, 2011 08:39 novorapidboi26 DAFNE Graduate NHS Lanarkshire 1,819 posts	Some good advice by Helen there, you could use that information on a couple of test runs to fine tune for the big day....... I would be taking on carbs and reducing the basal for sure though, but it seems to me like a difficult task to get right, however I dont pump currently, so am not familiar with the ins and outs........ Good luck and enjoy when the time comes.........