Diabetes and cycling.....

[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.

[gbunker]

Funny to find several other folks with type 1 D here! I am 40, was diagnosed at 12, and I use a Minimed Paradigm 522 and a Dexcom 7.

I am terribly allergic to the tape, too, but have been able to tolerate it with a layer of SkinTac underneath. When I used to use the MM CGMS, I would leave a little circle that was SkinTac-free for the sensor insertion site. When I switched to Dexcom, my trainer said I could insert directly through SkinTac and a layer of Tegaderm HP. That has really reduced the skin breakdown problem. Might be worth experimenting with different hypoallergenic barriers.

RubyTuesday, I just saw your post about the Bento Box for D supplies. That looks like it would be perfect for keeping the Dexcom where I can access it. Great idea!

Gillian

[TsPoet]

There are several types of tape! Throw out the MiniMed stuff and try different ones until you find the right one. When I get home tonight I'll have to look at the one I finally found.
But, many like iv 3000. Here's a random website I've never seen before - but they list a whole bunch of different tapes
http://www.insulin-pumpers.org/howto/tapetips.shtml
I think maybe the one that works for me is hypafix, and I don't care that it isn't see-through.
The sensor tape is OK for me, but you can cut it off and use something different if you have to.

[bhashiguchi]

I used to put down a layer of tegaderm under my minimed sof-sets, because I was allergic to the adhesive. since switching to the Animas insets, I haven't had a problem, thankfully. I'm not on a CGMS (yet! really want one though.) but Gillian's suggestion is a good one.

I did 42 miles on Saturday with a 40% reduction and ate breakfast and bolused about 80% of that. I was 87 at the midpoint of the ride. I had a gel pack, and that helped keep me steady in the second half, but I was still 87 after the ride and falling. So, I kept it at -20% for a few hours and had lunch with protein to help keep my blood sugar up.

I'm doing a 60 mile charity ride Saturday, thinking I'm going to try -50% since I know this will be harder since it's long and I'm riding with fast people. I'm also going to keep some energy gel chews on me to eat at the rest stops at 20 and 40 miles. You might try some sort of carb/protein bar (clif bar or clif block are my favorites, but there are others) at mid-ride to help keep your sugar up, plus something short acting like the gel or gatorade to treat the low.

Ruby- do you start your basal decrease an hour before you go out? It needs time to actually reduce the insulin in your system. When I go out in the morning, I'll bolus for my breakfast (usually 80% or so) wait 15 minutes, eat breakfast, and reduce my basal before I go get ready to ride.

Beth