Cycling diabetic

[skingsbury]

I started cycling about 2 years ago - I just love it! I am an insulin dependent diabetic. I seem to have trouble with my insulin when I'm riding. Sometimes it's very low and other times it skyrockets! Does anyone else have the issues. I'm looking for some guidance!

[alpinerabbit]

There are people on my german tri board who are diabetic. I believe they measure their glucose on the bike.

[jillm]

Hello,

I'm a type 2 diabetic, diagnosed 1 1/2 yrs ago. I know our situations are very different ...type 2, I'm trying to control bs levels through diet and exercise, no meds. I have found a lot of good info at www.diabetesforums.com. A few people on there are cyclists...or at least have advice for cyclists!

And I've noticed a difference between indoor (spinervals aerobase) and outdoor (pushing harder in the countryside) rides. Inside I go at a slower steadier pace and the glucose levels go steadily down. When I get back from a ride outside there are times when it's really high.

Anyway, no good advice, just wanted you to let you know about that site.

Good Luck!
jill

[Nokomis]

Hi! My husband is Type 1 as well. Are you doing injections or using a pump?

He's had the pump now for two years, and it's working out very well. He adjusts the insulin rate depending on the ride he's doing.

So far we've observed: Long distances will likely result in low blood sugar if not managed. Short, race distances that are high demand and intensity significantly raise his blood sugar. This was a recent learning; totally unexpected. Of course, a long race with intermitent sprint points or a sprint finish can be a combination of 1 and 2.

I'd strongly reccomend (if you aren't already) tracking the ride, intensity, your blood sugars, and food/beverage intake in order to better understand how and why your body reacts. Have a mix of high & low glycemic snacks available for rides, depending on which you need.

Have you seen Team Type 1? He was so excited when he heard about them.

[Becky]

I'd check out a diabetes forum for suggestions as well. www.diabetesforums.com is a very good one, with several cyclists who read and post regularly, as well as those who practice other intense forms of exercise. (yeah, like Jillm said....just saw her post. LOL!)

Second the recommendation for a pump, if possible. Mine has been life-changing.

[Blueberry]

Maybe email these guys? http://teamtype1.org/

The entire RAAM team is Type 1, and I would bet they'd be willing to share what they've learned (part of their mission is to help people become and stay active).

CA

[milkbone]

I started cycling about 2 years ago - I just love it! I am an insulin dependent diabetic. I seem to have trouble with my insulin when I'm riding. Sometimes it's very low and other times it skyrockets! Does anyone else have the issues. I'm looking for some guidance!

I don't have too much advice on controlling your bgl levels...however, do wear a medic alert bracelet...

[OakLeaf]

I don't have any real input either, except to mention that one of the other aerobic instructors at my gym has IDDM, uses a pump, teaches very high intensity classes, and controls her blood sugar very well.

[Jolt]

So far we've observed: Long distances will likely result in low blood sugar if not managed. Short, race distances that are high demand and intensity significantly raise his blood sugar. This was a recent learning; totally unexpected.

That seems logical--seems like the anaerobic exercise would cause sugar to be rapidly released from glycogen in the liver and muscles, raising the level in the blood, and if it's short duration the body may not use up all that sugar right away leaving high levels. With long distances at lower intensities, the sugar would be released maybe more slowly and because of the longer duration, would eventually be used up (isn't that also what a bonk is?). Does this make sense?

[ilima]

I don't have any first-hand advice for you, but I do have a cycling buddy who is Type I and we sometimes talk about her diabetes and managing it. She completed Ironman Arizona this past April.

She uses a mix of a long-acting and short-acting (normal?) insulin. From what I've read, and she's read & heard (I always forward Type I stuff I see to her), low blood sugar is the big-time enemy. A recent study where Type I diabetics were attempting to tightly control their blood sugar levels was stopped because the experimental (tight blood sugar control) group had a substantially higher death rate. My friend's take on it, was that low blood sugar is too be avoided more than high.

Anyway, just wanted to let you know that there are other Type I women out there kicking *** on the bike!

[alpinerabbit]

Did you see the device the RAAM Team Type 1 uses? That sounds fantastic.

[skingsbury]

Thanks to everyone for all the great info, I checked out the website for Team Type 1 - it was really fabulous. I did read that they check their BG levels 18 - 25 times during the day... I find that I don't eat enough during the ride and probably not enough fluids either. I hit the wall "bonk", and have no energy in my legs. I can't wait to check my levels while riding - I'm hoping that it will be very helpful.