Diabetes and cycling.....

[7rider]

Team Type 1
Pro, Development, and elite cycling, running and triathlon.
Many/most/all with Type 1 diabetes (depending on the squad).
Information and inspiration....

[RubyTuesday]

Thanks for the replies. I will check out both sites carefully. I really think I just need to find a good temp basal rate for riding. I tend to avoid carbs, but find I have to have them before a ride.

Thank you zoom-zoom for riding in the JDFR fundraiser!!!!

[zoom-zoom]

Thank you zoom-zoom for riding in the JDFR fundraiser!!!!

It's my pleasure! My hubby is a coach and has been a part of this team for about 6.5 years. He initially got involved so that he could do something helpful for someone and have incentive to ride. Now we ride because it's personal--these people with insulin pumps are dear friends and we would do anything to help see the end of their suffering.

[bhashiguchi]

Type 1 for 13 years, pump for 10, been riding since last fall. I've found for 20 mile rides, a 30% decrease and a bottle of gatorade while I ride seem to work for me. I also tend to get low at the end of rides, and then sometimes at 3am after a ride. So extending the basal decrease so that it stays low for an extra hour after you get done riding might work. If I go to bed on the low end after a ride, I'll set a 10% decrease for 4 hours overnight, that seems to help avoid the low.

The active bolus is also really important for me- I definitely feel like I can do a better job of controlling things if I ride/workout without much bolus insulin on board, since the exercise makes it work so much better. But, it can't always be avoided so I try to reduce my bolus or further reduce my basal if I have to eat right before I go.

I think that's the most frustrating thing- that it's not always an exact formula since other things affect what to set it at.

I second the recommendations for the Diabetic Athlete Handbook and Pumping Insulin, but trial and error is the best since everyone has different reactions. testing a lot the first few times to see how a change works will help document it and help you fine tune. I always keep my meter (the small ultramini) in my jersey pocket along with glucose tabs in case I need extra while I'm out.

[RubyTuesday]

Thank you bhashiguchi, that is exactly what I needed. I didn't think about the insulin on board. Dumb me. I will get some gatorade and try lowering my basal rate 30%. At least that is a starting point.

Yesterday, I did almost a 30 mile ride and have had lows now since the ride. Stopped half way and blood sugar was 54, ate a scone and some tea with no bolus and at the end of the ride, I was 87. That was good stuff only three hours later I was in the 40's.

Such a balancing act and some days you just don't know how far you might ride. I have read pumping insulin, but will look for the Diabetic Athlete.

Thank you! You gave me a starting point to work from.

[Becky]

Ruby- Use that CGMS! It's such a powerful tool during exercise and for fine-tuning basal rates. Since I figured out the quirks to mine, I almost never have serious lows, even during and after riding. If I recall, there's a pretty good discussion about using CGMS to fine-tune things in the 4th edition of Pumping Insulin.

[RubyTuesday]

Will do Becky. I just got new and NOT expired CGMS sensors. I will hook it up again and give it a shot. I stopped wearing it because of sensor sores. I think I am allergic to the adhesive. However, I could use the info. Back on it goes.