Exercise - personal observations on not going high

February 17, 2011 11:03

chrisg9 DAFNE Graduate
Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust 7 posts

I exercise 5 evenings a week (a bit excessive, but I am trying to lose some weight). Traditional wisdom had always been to make sure to take carbs before hand. Whether I did or didnt, the result was often a >15 BG at the end. Following the DAFNE course (last month) and some good advice elsewhere on this site, last night I was 15 before I started (supper had been 90 minutes previous when BG was 10 - I still cant explain the 15 level.) Ignoring guidelines not to exercise with high BG, I took QA8. At the end of 40 minutes, my BG was 7 and it hasnt really budged from that 16 hours later.
Would be very interested to know what others do to stop the highs after exercise.
regards
Chris

February 17, 2011 13:18

novorapidboi26 DAFNE Graduate
NHS Lanarkshire 1,819 posts

I don't exercise that much unfortunately but reducing the QA for the previous meal would be the choice I would take, it all depends on the duration and severity of the exercise as well....

I found this some where, cant remember where:

Short Moderate Long

Low 0.90 0.80 0.70

Moderate 0.75 0.67 0.50

High 0.67 0.50 0.33

The horizontal is the duration and the vertical is the intensity..............I wouldn't use these figures as I cant confirm the source but it gives you an idea of what you could try........these numbers are multiplied with your QA dose if exercising within 1-2 hours of the meal.....

The dafne handbook also has some stuff on exercising/activity you could look at.........

I would also not excercise if my BGs were above 13, but that number can vary for everyone.....

February 18, 2011 11:16

JayBee DAFNE Graduate
James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 587 posts

I think how your body responds, aka how well it uses the insulin you take, depends highly on how active you are. Another, very active, member of my DAFNE group found his body could work okay on BI alone when he exercises (still taking on CPs). I, on the other hand, seem to need the assistance of QA so I tend to try and take my exercise fuel off my meals, or if I know my meal QA has finished working, inject a bit of QA with a snack (applying DAFNE exercise rules at the same time). If I dont, I tend to hit 20 BG after exercise. HOWEVER, I dont correct after because my body will then use the next batch of food QA to bring it down (because body will still be affected by the exercise so using your insulin more effectively for some time afterwards). Correcting can result in hypo. Its all a little hit and miss though, sometimes taking off 2QA isnt enough but we learn! Smile

February 17, 2011 11:03 chrisg9 DAFNE Graduate Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust 7 posts	I exercise 5 evenings a week (a bit excessive, but I am trying to lose some weight). Traditional wisdom had always been to make sure to take carbs before hand. Whether I did or didnt, the result was often a >15 BG at the end. Following the DAFNE course (last month) and some good advice elsewhere on this site, last night I was 15 before I started (supper had been 90 minutes previous when BG was 10 - I still cant explain the 15 level.) Ignoring guidelines not to exercise with high BG, I took QA8. At the end of 40 minutes, my BG was 7 and it hasnt really budged from that 16 hours later. Would be very interested to know what others do to stop the highs after exercise. regards Chris
February 17, 2011 13:18 novorapidboi26 DAFNE Graduate NHS Lanarkshire 1,819 posts	I don't exercise that much unfortunately but reducing the QA for the previous meal would be the choice I would take, it all depends on the duration and severity of the exercise as well.... I found this some where, cant remember where: Short Moderate Long Low 0.90 0.80 0.70 Moderate 0.75 0.67 0.50 High 0.67 0.50 0.33 The horizontal is the duration and the vertical is the intensity..............I wouldn't use these figures as I cant confirm the source but it gives you an idea of what you could try........these numbers are multiplied with your QA dose if exercising within 1-2 hours of the meal..... The dafne handbook also has some stuff on exercising/activity you could look at......... I would also not excercise if my BGs were above 13, but that number can vary for everyone.....
February 18, 2011 11:16 JayBee DAFNE Graduate James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 587 posts	I think how your body responds, aka how well it uses the insulin you take, depends highly on how active you are. Another, very active, member of my DAFNE group found his body could work okay on BI alone when he exercises (still taking on CPs). I, on the other hand, seem to need the assistance of QA so I tend to try and take my exercise fuel off my meals, or if I know my meal QA has finished working, inject a bit of QA with a snack (applying DAFNE exercise rules at the same time). If I dont, I tend to hit 20 BG after exercise. HOWEVER, I dont correct after because my body will then use the next batch of food QA to bring it down (because body will still be affected by the exercise so using your insulin more effectively for some time afterwards). Correcting can result in hypo. Its all a little hit and miss though, sometimes taking off 2QA isnt enough but we learn!