Cycling with Diabetes

[Brava210]

Hi,

Just wondered if there were any cyclists like me, with type 1 Diabetes?
How you cope with the stress on your Blood Sugar etc. it can be quite frustrating.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

This might be worth a read:

http://www.teamnovonordisk.com/

 

[Brava210]

Cheers, although page wont load.

 

[Brava210]

It loads now, thanks a lot

 

[montage]

This might be worth a read:

http://www.teamnovonordisk.com/

They were fairly aggressive in the Tour of California at times.
Where there is a will..

 

[Bay Runner]

Diabetes lives in Port Talbot now and I dont often cycle with him.

 

[ayceejay]

Do you mean stress generally or cycle related and is that day to day stuff or competition?

 

[Bryony]

I'm type 1 diabetic, I just make sure I check my blood sugar before going for a ride, and I carry cereal bars to munch on the way. I also carry a tube of glucagel in my saddle pack. As long as you go out prepared you should be fine!

 

[Brava210]

Strange, I do check my BG before and like it to be around 9-12, sometimes I am fine but last night for instance it dropped really quickly.
Today I started at 8 and 1 hour later 6.5.

 

[Brava210]

Do you mean stress generally or cycle related and is that day to day stuff or competition?

Its the stress of blood sugar possibly dropping rapidly that worries me, has done for years


Gary

 

[Bryony]

Mine can do that, I can go to bed with a blood sugar of 12/13 2hrs later I wake up shaking and covered in sweat and a blood sugar of 2.3!!

I was told after exercise to keep an eye on my blood sugar as it can carry on dropping 4 or so hours after you have finished.

If you blood sugar is dropping rapidly for no reason I'd have a word with your diabetes nurse and see if your insulin needs tweaking or even changing.

Does your blood sugar drop at the same time, each time or is it happening randomly?

 

[Spin City]

Brava, my approach is similar to Bryony's.
For rides longer than an hour or so I use a combination of fast acting and slow acting sugar/starch to my keep my Sugars up. I drink Ribena or Hi-Juice and eat things such as Malt Loaf, Banana Bread, Tea Bread, Fruit Cake, Scones, Flapjacks, etc.

Personally, I find a mixture of low and high GI food/drink is a good balance for cycling. So I will consume at least 500ml of drink per hour that contains between 5% and 7% of sugars i.e. an isotonic drink. As well as this I will eat a small handful piece of food after each hour. If I'm on a long ride such as an all day Audax I will also eat a meal and take a very small amount of insulin. If riding a Sportive then I probably wouldn't get the opportunity to stop for a meal with insulin so I will just snack all day.

The effects on your Blood Sugar levels could last up to 24 hours if you've been on a very long ride. You'll have to give us an idea of the type of cycling you do i.e. intensity and duration.

 

[ayceejay]

Strange, I do check my BG before and like it to be around 9-12, sometimes I am fine but last night for instance it dropped really quickly.
Today I started at 8 and 1 hour later 6.5.

Aren't these figures a bit high Garry? Do you take an Ultra Lente type at bedtime and Act Rapid or something before meals? You may want to get a BP meter as your blood pressure will effect the readings on your other meter.
Sticking my neck out as there is not enough information here to make anything other than a guess, you should take less insulin rather than eat more of the food listed above and I would suggest that if your blood sugar is higher than 12 - 14 don't go out until you have better control.

 

[Brava210]

I have my BG at 9ish before riding to avoid dropping too low, I am on a pump and my insulin basal rates and bolus are pretty good.
Checked them recently.

 

[Bryony]

I'm not on a pump but hoping to be at some point. Is it better than injections?