Blood Sugar and Exercise

[cemays]

I was wondering if any other diabetic has noticed this. When I exercise hard (typically resistance training), my blood sugar is higher after the exercise than before. I am wondering if it is a situation like the Dawn Effect? I always exercise in the evening but I have noticed it at other times as well. I have observed this every time I want to check to see what exercise does, and when I have brought it up to the Dr., he says it can't happen. I have observed this for 6 years now. I have some theories about it, but have been told that it can't happen that way either. Just wanted to see if others noticed the same thing.

Thanks

[Ottawa]

I've noticed this as well. The harder/longer the exercise, the greater the reading.
My only expalantion is possibly the release of all your glucogen as well as continuing Ketosis, providing required energy.

[cemays]

Do you know of any supplements that may help to minimize it? Mine can jump significantly, from 120 up to 190. Have you noticed as you get in better shape, does it start to reduce the this effect? Does it change the longer you are on PP?

[BeccainSC]

Second, sometimes exercise raises blood sugars. Here's how this happens.

Insulin is needed to turn sugar into energy. It is also needed to fend off the stress hormones. These hormones send extra sugar into the blood during exercise. So, exercising when your insulin levels are low (such as before you take your morning insulin) can raise blood sugars.
Some intense workouts also increase hormone levels and raise blood sugars. Also, stress or pain may raise blood sugars.

The above is from this site: http://www.icsdna.com/urwhatueat/exerciseknow.html

Not a low carb site for sure, but does have some good info on exercise and some calculators and such.

Not much help I know, just some added info.

'becca

[arc]

I know Dr. Bernstein recommends short anaerobic exercise instead of long aerobic exercise because of this in his book The Diabetes Solution.

[gitfiddle]

Thanks, Becca. That was a much more comprehensive explanation that I was going to give. I also notice, cemays, that when the blood sugar drops after the exercise rise, it can go very low so I make sure I have some nuts along if I'm away from home.

I am living proof that stress raises blood sugar. New boss & new job threw me into a tailspin. It's taken me a year to feel like I'm coming out of it. Let's hear it for stress!:rolleyes: The good part is that regular exercise can minimize stress effects.

[Belfrybat]

I've noticed cardio exercise raises my blood sugar as well. Haven't tested again to see how quickly it drops, but perhaps I should do that. It's frustrating as the NP I go to says exercise will help reduce BG, but it seems to be the opposite for me. I go in for a HbA1c next week, so will see if increasing exercise over the last couple of months will have an overall effect or not. HOpe it's the right kind of effect!

[kevinpa]

My Dr. told me that the stress of strenous exercise itself can raise blood sugar by getting the adrenal glands involved, but supposedly, the duration of the exercise is supposed to then lower blood sugar.

He also said if your blood sugar became too low while exercising, the adrenal glands would release cortisol to raise blood sugar. This could cause sugar to rise after exercise.

Dehydration is another reason sugar could go up.

[AT22]

Just a curious sidenote: I actually find that sometimes I have low blood sugar symptoms during and after exercise, expecially cardio like running or riding the bike. I'm not diabetic or anything so I've never actually tested it, though. I have no idea what might cause this or why.

[gitfiddle]

Just a curious sidenote: I actually find that sometimes I have low blood sugar symptoms during and after exercise, expecially cardio like running or riding the bike. I'm not diabetic or anything so I've never actually tested it, though. I have no idea what might cause this or why.
Before I was diagnosed I noticed that about twenty or thirty miles into a ride I became really, really tired. My sister suggested I have a power bar, which I always carried and rarely ate. In about fifteen minutes, I started feeling better. That was my first clue. Dehydration may have been a factor as well. Now, when I walk it's much less strenuous and of shorter duration. After the walk, my bs is up and in about forty-five minutes it drops like a rock.

I'm thinking if you're over forty and not been tested, it wouldn't hurt.

[debwoo]

I've noticed this as well. The harder/longer the exercise, the greater the reading.
My only expalantion is possibly the release of all your glucogen as well as continuing Ketosis, providing required energy.

I have noticed this too but i thought it should bring blood sugar down in the long run. i am exercising 30 minutes in the evening and expected my morning readings to go down somewhat but they have not at all, so i am still getting pre-diabetic readings in the morning of between 6.1-6.9.

however my recent A1c was awesome = 5.5 which was down from 6.1. hard to conclude if the exercise contributed to that or not.

any further thoughts out there
thanks
deb

[bluejay111]

Deb,
A good site for diabetics is www.diabetes-book.com (http://www.diabetes-book.com). Many people on that site see their blood sugars go up when they exercise. The site is the result of the book Diabetes Solutions by Dr. Richard Bernstein who is a type 1 diabetic. There is a world of information on the forum and there are also excerpts from the book.

[maxlharris]

If it's long cardio that is the problem, I'm gonna beat the dead horse here again and say you should drop it in favor of sprint intervals. You get a metabolic edge, you get into your fat reserves, and you get out in 20 minutes. Never mind that it's tons more efficient and generally better for you, it will probably help dodge the post-workout hyperglycemia issue as well.

[Golden Girl]

I am new to this BG thing. I have pre diabetic fasting. 100-115 but an A1c of only 5.8 as of last Jan. What started my testing was after 27-28 min on my recumbant bike, I get so shaky I have to stop. So off I went and got myself a meter. When I would test at that shaky point, it was not low but 106, lowest was only 90. So go figure. I have no idea what that means but it's not low. I usually get out of bed, test, eat breakfast and jump on the bike. So I don't test again that soon before I exercise.

I learned to wait and exercise late morning or afternoon. I really hate waiting as I prefer to get it over with early.
Julie

[Larry Chanin]

I am new to this BG thing. I have pre diabetic fasting. 100-115 but an A1c of only 5.8 as of last Jan. What started my testing was after 27-28 min on my recumbant bike, I get so shaky I have to stop. So off I went and got myself a meter. When I would test at that shaky point, it was not low but 106, lowest was only 90. So go figure. I have no idea what that means but it's not low. I usually get out of bed, test, eat breakfast and jump on the bike. So I don't test again that soon before I exercise.

I learned to wait and exercise late morning or afternoon. I really hate waiting as I prefer to get it over with early.
Julie

Hi Julie,

I'm just speculating here, but it might be useful if you bought a blood pressure meter and monitored your blood pressure after one of these "shaky" points. It may be possible that dehydration has both artificially increased your blood glucose readings and lowered your blood pressure to the point where you feel faint.

When trying your early workouts you may not be allowing sufficient time to drink enough prior to your exercise. Some fitness experts suggest several glass of water two hours before exercising.

Good luck.

Larry

[Golden Girl]

Thanks Larry, that makes sense. I'll check my blood pressure next time it happens and see. I also try drinking more before I exercise.:)

[Larry Chanin]

If it's long cardio that is the problem, I'm gonna beat the dead horse here again and say you should drop it in favor of sprint intervals. You get a metabolic edge, you get into your fat reserves, and you get out in 20 minutes. Never mind that it's tons more efficient and generally better for you, it will probably help dodge the post-workout hyperglycemia issue as well.

Hi Max,

Yes, very intense exercise, such as sprint intervals, are very efficient. Unfortunately they are very efficient in bringing on hyperglycemia not only in diabetics, but in normal fit individuals, and it only takes just a few minutes. ;)

Here's a clinical study on the subject.

Intense Exercise Has Unique Effects on Both Insulin Release and Its Roles in Glucoregulation (http://diabetes.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/reprint/51/suppl_1/S271?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=exercise+%22type+II%22+dehydration&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=20&resourcetype=HWCIT)

In this study fit non-diabetic subjects and fit type I diabetics were tested during and after intense sprint intervals lasting just several minutes. Both the normal subjects and diabetics became hyperglycemic. In the case of the normal subjects, during recovery they experienced hyperinsulinemia. This elevated insulin response restored pre-exercise blood glucose levels after about 40-60 minutes. In the case of type I diabetics, lacking an insulin response, this resulted in sustained hyperglycemia that required increased dosages of fast acting insulin to restore blood glucose levels.

While other studies have shown that both intense and moderate exercise helps improve insulin sensitivity several hours following exercise, nevertheless it might be wise for diabetics to avoid repeatedly inducing acute hyperglycemia. Its possible that such repeated bouts of hyperglycemia could have an adverse effect on long-term glucose control.

It should be stressed that the type of exercise in the study is so intense that even fit individuals can't sustain it for more than about 15 minutes. Even strenous weight training is unlikely to bring on these extreme reactions.

Larry