Not sweating any more when exercising

[Camberwick]

Hi there. I have noticed that I hardly sweat anymore when exercising. Could this be due to the neuropathic damage. I still sweat buckets when I eat spicy food. Anyone report anything similar?

 

[SimonP]

Has anything changed in terms of what you do re exercise and your weight (see my last paragraph)?

As you still sweat when eating spicy food, I would guess it's an adaptation rather than a neuropathic problem but I'm not a medical doctor. A glance at sports-related Google hits seems to indicate that more sweating = fitter individual and that more sweating = heat acclimatised individual, however, I don't think this is necessarily the full picture as with a bit more digging and things I've read in the past it would appear that long term acclimatisation to warm climates generates lower sweat rates, which you'd expect. This is what I see too in myself.

Also the whole fitter = more sweating seems to be linked to the idea that fitter = more power all the time (so naturally more waste heat to get rid of), there is, one assumes, the flip side that for the same power being achieved more efficiently there is less waste energy (I'm not sure how much efficiency changes with training though) or at the very least this becomes a similar adaptation to that for hotter climates. I also feel that I probably sweat less now than when I started riding, but it's hard to know (I do produce more power, and I probably also have better clothing)

Re sweating, but not directly linked to exercise, one thing I have definitely noticed is that being skinnier now (~82kg, 6'2") I sweat much less just generally than when I was ~10kg heavier. This weight loss happened (accidentally, though in hindsight a good thing) over the space of ~3 months so it was quite easy to notice the change.

 

[harbottle]

I stopped sweating as much when I lost weight. When I was rotund I'd sweat buckets. It'd be dripping off my hair.

 

[Spathiphyllum]

I stopped sweating as much when I lost weight. When I was rotund I'd sweat buckets. It'd be dripping off my hair.

I've never sweated very much, and I've never been rotund! (BMI 18-19 for decades, with the odd dip-- the worst being pre-diagnosis! Now nearly back up to BMI 18.)

A sample of three-- SimonP, Harbottle, and me-- is hardly scientific! But it seems logical, and especially when put together with the point SimonP raises: the more regularly you exercise, the more efficient your body will become at that exercise. So a level of exercise which initially makes you huff and puff-- and sweat a lot-- eventually becomes a level of exercise you can breathe easily through and 'no sweat' (or very little).

And-- people who habitually exercise regularly are likely to be thinner, whereas people who don't exercise regularly are likely to be fatter.

So, Camberwick-- If you're very worried about neuropathic damage, do discuss it with your GP or diabetes team; but there are lots of other, more likely reasons for why you may be sweating less.

 

[Ditto]

Can neuropathy make a difference? I always had to use Mum rollette since being 14 and then a few years ago I stopped sweating too. I always thought it weird. Wonder if it was when the type 2 kicked in? Interesting.

Maybe Prince Andrew should go and get his bg checked out?!

 

[Callista]

I always assumed one sweated when either unfit, or not working out hard enough (ie, exerting effort!). If so, maybe you're just getting fitter?!

It's a bit like one's heart rate - when one is unfit it rises quickly even with gentle exercise, then as you get fitter it doesn't, and then as you get even fitter you work out harder (because you can by then!) and then your heart rate goes up again (etc etc)

Not sure that sweating when eating spicy-hot foods is that good, is it? Isn't it the body's way of coping with what it shouldn't have to cope with in the first place??!!!!

 

[Deleted member 21371]

Hi there. I have noticed that I hardly sweat anymore when exercising. Could this be due to the neuropathic damage. I still sweat buckets when I eat spicy food. Anyone report anything similar?

I sweated more when I was less fit.
Have you made any other changes?
Any change to diet?

 

[Spathiphyllum]

I always assumed one sweated when either unfit, or not working out hard enough (ie, exerting effort!). If so, maybe you're just getting fitter?!

It's a bit like one's heart rate - when one is unfit it rises quickly even with gentle exercise, then as you get fitter it doesn't, and then as you get even fitter you work out harder (because you can by then!) and then your heart rate goes up again (etc etc)

Not sure that sweating when eating spicy-hot foods is that good, is it? Isn't it the body's way of coping with what it shouldn't have to cope with in the first place??!!!!

I often get a runny nose when I eat soup. Doesn't mean soup is bad. ; )

 

[Leadinglights]

I always assumed one sweated when either unfit, or not working out hard enough (ie, exerting effort!). If so, maybe you're just getting fitter?!

It's a bit like one's heart rate - when one is unfit it rises quickly even with gentle exercise, then as you get fitter it doesn't, and then as you get even fitter you work out harder (because you can by then!) and then your heart rate goes up again (etc etc)

Not sure that sweating when eating spicy-hot foods is that good, is it? Isn't it the body's way of coping with what it shouldn't have to cope with in the first place??!!!!

I always thought the idea of eating hot spicy foods in hot countries was to make people sweat as that cooled them down by evaporation from the skin.

 

[Deleted member 21371]

I always thought the idea of eating hot spicy foods in hot countries was to make people sweat as that cooled them down by evaporation from the skin.

It's mostly because the spices are a preservative, so the food kept better in the heat.
It also hid the taste of the stuff that hadn't kept in the first place.
The capsaicin in it is also an insect and rodent repellent.

And yes, that chemical also makes you sweat, but the downside is you need to keep more hydrated, which is difficult in areas with no reliable water.

 

[Jodee]

Cant work up a sweat anymore, with lung issues and approaching age 70 years, breathelessness no problem though I did manage 6,000 steps the other day though at a fairly slow pace, took 2.5 hours and I was worn out afterward and a bit achy round the hips. Every little helps, but that was a lot for me.