exercise + hypos

[laurajkelly]

How do diabetics on Atkins go about doing exercise and avoiding hypos as I would like to be more active but am afraid as I nearly always hypo. Surely if your blood sugar is at normal levels and you take exercise without carbs you would hypo?

Also how do diabetics on Atkins treat hypos without carbs?

Please :help

Laura

[G-Mom]

Hi Laura, do you make sure to have a protein/fat snack prior to exercise? Are you trying to do too much too soon? I am not a diabetic (I was hypoglycemic prior to Atkins), so I am not too sure about this.

For anyone else answering: Laura is a Type 1 diabetic, NOT Type 2.

I hope someone else pops in here!

[ipopup]

:wave EXERCISE AND TYPE 1 DIABETES
These should help the books are written by Dr. Richard Bernstein he is a type 1 diabetic he covers diet and excercise. He recommends 6-12-12 for Carbs.

Achieving normal blood sugars for diabetics with the aid of a low carbohydrate diet and exercise is the focus of Dr. Bernstein's Revised and Updated Diabetes Solution, and the New Diabetes Diet, Dr. Bernstein's Low-Carbohydrate Solution, books by Richard K. Bernstein, M.D., F.A.C.E., F.A.C.N., C.W.S.

http://www.diabetes-normalsugars.com/

EXERCISE AND TYPE 1 DIABETES (ADA Journal)

http://care.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/content/full/27/suppl_1/s58#SEC4

All levels of physical activity, including leisure activities, recreational sports, and competitive professional performance, can be performed by people with type 1 diabetes who do not have complications and are in good blood glucose control (note previous section). The ability to adjust the therapeutic regimen (insulin and medical nutrition therapy) to allow safe participation and high performance has recently been recognized as an important management strategy in these individuals. In particular, the important role played by the patient in collecting self-monitored blood glucose data of the response to physical activity and then using these data to improve performance and enhance safety is now fully accepted.

Hypoglycemia, which can occur during, immediately after, or many hours after physical activity, can be avoided. This requires that the patient has both an adequate knowledge of the metabolic and hormonal responses to physical activity and well-tuned self-management skills. The increasing use of intensive insulin therapy has provided patients with the flexibility to make appropriate insulin dose adjustments for various activities. The rigid recommendation to use carbohydrate supplementation, calculated from the planned intensity and duration of physical activity, without regard to glycemic level at the start of physical activity, the previously measured metabolic response to physical activity, and the patient’s insulin therapy, is no longer appropriate. Such an approach not infrequently neutralizes the beneficial glycemic lowering effects of physical activity in patients with type 1 diabetes.

General guidelines that may prove helpful in regulating the glycemic response to physical activity can be summarized as follows:

Metabolic control before physical activity
Avoid physical activity if fasting glucose levels are >250 mg/dl and ketosis is present, and use caution if glucose levels are >300 mg/dl and no ketosis is present.

Ingest added carbohydrate if glucose levels are <100 mg/dl.



Blood glucose monitoring before and after physical activity
Identify when changes in insulin or food intake are necessary.

Learn the glycemic response to different physical activity conditions.



Food intake
Consume added carbohydrate as needed to avoid hypoglycemia.

Carbohydrate-based foods should be readily available during and after physical activity.



Because diabetes is associated with an increased risk of macrovascular disease, the benefit of physical activity in improving known risk factors for atherosclerosis is to be highly valued. This is particularly true in that physical activity can improve the lipoprotein profile, reduce blood pressure, and improve cardiovascular fitness. However, it must also be appreciated that several studies have failed to show an independent effect of physical activity training on improving glycemic control as measured by the A1C test in patients with type 1 diabetes. Indeed, these studies have been valuable in changing the focus for physical activity in diabetes from glucose control to that of an important life behavior with multiple benefits. The challenge is to develop strategies that allow individuals with type 1 diabetes to participate in activities that are consistent with their lifestyle and culture in a safe and enjoyable manner.

In general, the principles recommended for dealing with physical activity in adults with type 1 diabetes, free of complications, apply to children, with the caveat that children may be prone to greater variability in blood glucose levels. In children, particular attention needs to be paid to balancing glycemic control with the normalcy of play, and for this the assistance of parents, teachers, and athletic coaches may be necessary. In the case of adolescents, hormonal changes can contribute to the difficulty in controlling blood glucose levels. Despite these added problems, it is clear that with careful instructions in self-management and the treatment of hypoglycemia, physical activity can be a safe and rewarding experience for the great majority of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.
Formerly Borntolose

[laurajkelly]

Thankyou for both your responses. That has been very helpful. It is so good to talk to people who understand these things.

Laura

[2big4mysize]

one more thing you need to understand about Atkins is their are two complementary hormones for evoking energy responses in the human body and they are in a negative feedback loop with each other. During Atkins low carbing you will not be evoking the insulin response as insulin is a fat storing hormone in addition to adding in blood sugar burning.
We use the other hormone glucagon to get the fatty acides out of our fat cells and broken down during all our daily activties. This is one reason Dr Atkins tells us not to do our Atkins too high protein because this hormone also asssits the liver to convert amino acids from proteins to glucose inthe liver and those glucose molecules if released in too high an amount can raise blood sugar levels again and evoke an insulin response. So we do 60-65% fats during the weight loss phase of Atkins and only 30% of our total cals are proteins.

Monitore your blood sugars before during and after to see if you need to adjust your insulin levels and eat Atkins WOE snacks an hour before or right after your workout to help you.

Remember to start slowly as you learn your bosy on low carbs and how it reacts to different amounts of exhertion.

Happy low carbing.