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Diabetic Riders

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flag conan257
Posted: Dec 15, 2015 at 5:04 Quote
I was diagnosed a couple of months ago, I've been on Lantus for the past 6 weeks but have managed to come off that the past few days and live just on Metformin. No idea if i'm type 1 or 2 as of yet as I'm in a pretty remote area of Nova Scotia and the tests are done in Toronto...

I've been smashing the gym since diagnosis as my job relies on me not taking insulin. My 5k run has gone from about 35 minutes to 23. Not had the chance to ride much but I imagine the fitness will cross over.

Anybody not on insulin riding? I always used to take some Haribo sweets on a ride, but think that might be a bit too much now! What do people eat during riding to keep energy up? I can't control the intake with insulin, so need to moderate it with the right foods.
flag brianl
Posted: Dec 15, 2015 at 12:17 Quote
If you're on Metformin you're most likely Type 2.
For Type 2s I always hear complex carbs are better than simple carbs, less spiking.
Test periodically during a ride and see what your blood sugar is doing. For longer rides, if your intensity isn't too high you may be fine without carbs.
flag conan257
Posted: Dec 16, 2015 at 6:53 Quote
brianl wrote:
If you're on Metformin you're most likely Type 2.
For Type 2s I always hear complex carbs are better than simple carbs, less spiking.
Test periodically during a ride and see what your blood sugar is doing. For longer rides, if your intensity isn't too high you may be fine without carbs.

Good advice, thanks.

Everyone is assuming type one, even though I am 33, mainly due to me being about 67kg and not showing traditional signs of type 2. I seem to be managing without the insulin now, so hopefully over the near term it shouldn't matter either way.

I've had a massive diet change over the past few months, winter here is starting and with a young family i'm not getting out much. Plenty of running under my belt though!
flag geezracer
Posted: Dec 16, 2015 at 9:25 Quote
conan257 wrote:
brianl wrote:
If you're on Metformin you're most likely Type 2.
For Type 2s I always hear complex carbs are better than simple carbs, less spiking.
Test periodically during a ride and see what your blood sugar is doing. For longer rides, if your intensity isn't too high you may be fine without carbs.

Good advice, thanks.

Everyone is assuming type one, even though I am 33, mainly due to me being about 67kg and not showing traditional signs of type 2. I seem to be managing without the insulin now, so hopefully over the near term it shouldn't matter either way.

I've had a massive diet change over the past few months, winter here is starting and with a young family i'm not getting out much. Plenty of running under my belt though!

I was diagnosed with Type 2 at 29, after a few years of not being able to control my blood sugars with pills. I went to see a Diabetes specialist, and was diagnosed with Late-Onset/Adult Diabetes which is Type 1.
If you have the ability, I would recommend seeing a specialist.

I have been on Metformin and Lantus since being diagnosed, I only recently started taking Rapid-acting/Meal time insulin.
I have noticed a vast difference in my ability to maintain a proper blood suger since I started on Humalog.
Along with diet and exercise of course. But it has not been without its challenges!
flag brianl
Posted: Dec 16, 2015 at 9:26 Quote
conan257 wrote:
brianl wrote:
If you're on Metformin you're most likely Type 2.
For Type 2s I always hear complex carbs are better than simple carbs, less spiking.
Test periodically during a ride and see what your blood sugar is doing. For longer rides, if your intensity isn't too high you may be fine without carbs.

Good advice, thanks.

Everyone is assuming type one, even though I am 33, mainly due to me being about 67kg and not showing traditional signs of type 2. I seem to be managing without the insulin now, so hopefully over the near term it shouldn't matter either way.

I've had a massive diet change over the past few months, winter here is starting and with a young family i'm not getting out much. Plenty of running under my belt though!
I'm just guessing, so hopefully you're working with Doc, nurse, and have seen an Endocrinologist (sp?), and if you're checking your blood sugar regularly you will catch any trends.
flag therealtylerdurden
Posted: Dec 16, 2015 at 10:09 Quote
Speaking of blood sugar, I'm curious to know what your absolute lowest and highest numbers have been so far? Welcome to the family, by the way Wink
flag conan257
Posted: Dec 17, 2015 at 4:30 Quote
After coming off the Lantus I've been between 4.5 and 6.6 for my fasting, and I've not seen higher than 8.8. I rarely check after eating though, I usually check before eating to ensure I'm not having the wrong carbs from a high point. The metformin seems to be working well for me.

Before diagnosis I was about 15 fasting, and saw a 21 after eating.

My job relies on me not taking insulin, as such I have excellent medical care and repeated visits to the endocrinologist. We're all still waiting on the antibody test results which will define if I am 1 or 2. I think the combination of several stress inducing bits of my life coming together (moving country, new baby etc), plus a very poor diet and no exercise at that time contributed to where I am now. However a major lifestyle change has brought me mostly back on the straight and narrow!

I've a plan to "compete" in the Trans Savoie in 2019 (I return to the UK in 201Cool , so I'm really interested in how I'd carb-load for each day yet maintain sensible levels without insulin... Think i'll be on the hunt for a sports dietician as well!

Thanks everyone! Counting myself fortunate that I'm in the position I am as I know some have much more difficulty in managing things than I have so far.
flag therealtylerdurden
Posted: Dec 17, 2015 at 16:33 Quote
conan257 wrote:
After coming off the Lantus I've been between 4.5 and 6.6 for my fasting, and I've not seen higher than 8.8. I rarely check after eating though, I usually check before eating to ensure I'm not having the wrong carbs from a high point. The metformin seems to be working well for me.

Before diagnosis I was about 15 fasting, and saw a 21 after eating.

My job relies on me not taking insulin, as such I have excellent medical care and repeated visits to the endocrinologist. We're all still waiting on the antibody test results which will define if I am 1 or 2. I think the combination of several stress inducing bits of my life coming together (moving country, new baby etc), plus a very poor diet and no exercise at that time contributed to where I am now. However a major lifestyle change has brought me mostly back on the straight and narrow!

I've a plan to "compete" in the Trans Savoie in 2019 (I return to the UK in 201Cool , so I'm really interested in how I'd carb-load for each day yet maintain sensible levels without insulin... Think i'll be on the hunt for a sports dietician as well!

Thanks everyone! Counting myself fortunate that I'm in the position I am as I know some have much more difficulty in managing things than I have so far.
Pilot? Smile


Have you lost weight since you were first diagnosed (and were you overweight?)?
flag conan257
Posted: Dec 17, 2015 at 17:35 Quote
Not a pilot, but I do fly in the military... So same deal pretty much.

I was about 70kg this time last year, I went down to 65kg around September/October, back up to 67.5kg now which I class as a very good weight for me. I've lost 1-2 inches off my waistline, and as such hardly any clothes fit me!

I've replaced what little excess fat I had with muscle, so have lost size but haven't really lost that much weight. My BMI has gone from 25 to about 22.
flag dmadness
Posted: Dec 24, 2015 at 0:00 Quote
You fly for the military?? Smile you have NO problems regardless... get them to approve you for an insulin pump IF you end up needing insulin. I don't know much about progression of adult diabetes but If it progresses to the point that you need insulin then you are also at risk of experiencing lows... have you experienced low blood sugars, what was your lowest recorded blood sugar? and did you have any effects? I ask this because My effects can go unnoticed by me after years of diabetes, could be the same for someone that has not yet experienced a low, if not I would ALWAYS carry a snack with you, something really fast acting, If you get weird feeling, irritable, dizzy, weak, really really tired... there are a slew of possible low "signs" Eat it without any question.. and note it. Im not trying to scare you, as it sounds like things will in your case likely get better but some people get the low drunk symptom and are completely oblivious to it... myself included, why I wear a cgm now.. it has literally saved my life, but is pricy. Salute
flag conan257
Posted: Dec 27, 2015 at 10:29 Quote
I've not had any real lows, lowest reading I've seen is about 3.8. Not on insulin just now so there's no chance of me going down like that.

If I have to take insulin, I basically lose my job. Military flying and insulin do not go together at all.

Christmas has been interesting this year, and with the snow falling now I'm struggling to get the bike out! Hopefully it will be clear enough soon to head out.
flag therealtylerdurden
Posted: Dec 27, 2015 at 13:45 Quote
Braap! This Christmas was my 20th anniversary of having type 1. Looking for a pancreas on craigslist, no luck so far. lol

@conan257, what kind of food do you eat generally? As far as carbs go, do a little reading on the gylcemic index. It'll help you a LOT! Potatoes spike your sugar faster than soda does! And white bread spikes it just as fast as soda..
flag conan257
Posted: Dec 28, 2015 at 5:54 Quote
I've had a massive change of diet recently, it looks like a healthy diet with about 180 carbs a day keeps my levels in check. Couple of naughty days over Christmas spiked a bit high but back on the good foods again!
flag tullie
Posted: Jan 4, 2016 at 12:53 Quote
I am type 1 and have been for 20 years been using dexcom for 2 years and animus vibe pump for about a year and they both have done wonders. I ride 5 days a week and love the tip about eating a bit before your ride.

Have anyone had a issue with dehydration with normal range blood sugars and anything to help with it?

 


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