Exercise can actually increase blood sugar levels, so you gotta be careful. Some things are counter-intuitive. For example, drinking alcohol can increase the effectiveness of insulin and decrease blood sugar. I'm not recommending that for the issues discussed here, but just to understand that these are complex interactions.
If the concerns are chronic and and always occurring, I would suggest checking into changing or modifying insulin types or dosages for a solution.
Here is a decent link about exercise: http://www.childrenwithdiabetes.com/sports/UpWithExercise.htm
Weird we were told to make her run around if she was high. I thought exercise lowered bsl and it seems to with Riley. Once you finally think you understand something about this someone else comes along and tells you you are wrong. blah.
I know, it's weird. But think about it like this: sugar = fuel for energy, so when do you need energy? Exercise! The body naturally increases blood sugar levels to compensate for the absorption of sugar. The only problem is that we can't naturally metabolize the excessive sugar.
It's also kind of funny what happens when people get "shaky" having a low blood sugar. It's because the body releases adrenaline. It's like your body is saying GET ME SUGAR NOW and gives you one last chance and throws all the chips in.
I've always found that when I'm really really into doing something, it's harder to notice when my sugar is low. The same is likely true for exercise. So, it might be more difficult for the person to notice that they have a lower blood sugar if they are really occupied with some activity.
Exercising while being over 250 made me get ketones and I started getting sick to my stomach so please be careful with exercising. Check before, during and after.
I have had lows while exercising as well so it is sooooo important to check, check and keep checking. Even hours later to prevent hypoglycemia.
BG rise from exercise take a few things to have it happen. 1, the BG is higher than 200-250; 2, the background insulin has be low or missing; 3, the liver has have stored glycogen and glucose; 4, the type of exercise need to be of a type that demands glucose in the muscle.
This is a simple description, but it does take more than one thing to create a high BG from exercise. The point is that if you BG is high, it may not be the best thing to exercise aggressively and you my need insulin to keep it down.
There are several book that may help with the general issues involved with managing BG with insulin. My favorite is "Think like a pancreas..."
Exercise is a key component to get the insulin receptors working effectively, With out the exercise, the T1D insulin needs will be much higher than the need to be an the BG drop per unit if insulin is hard to calculate and manage.
It is all about little things so I try not to get overwhelmed by the challenges that get thrown my way.
yeah I need to order that book as soon as I can afford it. My hubby took the week off of work to be at the hospital with Riley and I to learn how to care for her as well and half a check is no good. So I have to wait longer to order it.
She was in the 300's and we were told to run her around to help bring the numbers down or have her play the wii for half an hour. Not a major workout but something at the time she wasnt really doing anything at all. She has been doing better tho her Dinner numbers have been ok. She is on 25 units of nph during the day and might go up to 26. She had 12 units of it just before bed and that came down. She had one to many lows over night. She has novolog at night too but has not been taking any in the mornings. She only gets those 2 injections each day.
I'm really surprised to read about having her run around to lower her blood sugar. From what I understand, if your blood sugar is over 250, exercise will raise your sugar levels, not lower them. Glad to hear she's doing better though!
Yesterday she was in the 300 hundreds again before pe but it was about an hour after lunch for some reason yesterday her nph had no affect on her at all. She did pe and felt fine she gets so hyper its not funny but I decided to test her ketones when she got home she was 394 and hadn't had snack yet. They were trace to none. I have not clue what to do we are still trying to figure out her dosing for the nph it keeps going up she will be ok for a day or two then have a couple of high days and at least one low on those high days. So yeah no clue. Last night was my husbands turn to talk to the case worker and while I didnt demand him to talk about a change in insulin I had hoped he would after me talking about it. Tonight is my turn and I am going to bring it up to her.