Hi everyone. I'm new here!

[Goldiebrowse]

Hi everyone!

My name is Becca and I'm a T1D diagnosed in 2015. I'm new here, but not new to diabetes.

I've started a fitness journey recently, and I find it difficult sharing my experiences with my friends and family about the frustrations of life with diabetes as I'm the anomaly (no one else in my family has T1D).

Here looking for tips on how to manage blood sugars with exercise, and looking for somewhere to share the highs and lows that this condition brings.

Thanks for reading and hope everyone is well 🙂

Hi @Bec2015 I also started exercise this year (cycling) and initially I struggled with carbs/exercise balance of insulin and post exercise reactions. Foods were a case of trial and error but I did find protein bars are great before commencing any strenuous activity. I also found that after exercise my sugars would spike so I have two units of my day time insulin to compensate for the spike but this will depend on insulin etc. I’ve also managed to reduce my background insulin by 2 units but I do need to put this back to normal when having rest weeks. Being diabetic just means taking extra precautions when exercising, I love being out on my bike and it’s improved my health dramatically

 

[trophywench]

Getting a pump is a great thing for anybody's HbA1c - but only if you are aware and prepared to put the work in to get the thing adjusted to your actual bodily needs for insulin - which bears little resemblance to how much you appear to need now on MDI. I've virtually halved my TDD basal from 18/19u on first Lantus then later on split dose Levemir, to a TDD of between 10 and 11u.

That was a very weird feeling, now 10ish years ago, which felt much like August 1972 when newly diagnosed and feeling 'lost, alone and unloved' - whilst people always talk the talk and say I'll always be here for you - they bloody well aren't, are they, cos you're at home and they aren't at your house! When you're struggling with whatever, have you ever noticed it's usually outside working hours at diabetes clinics, like 10.35 at night on a Friday? - cos I have. So - grit your teeth say bugger them - and SORT it! We each have to do it our own way - and it will pay dividends, honestly.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @Bec2015

Good to see you engaged in such a lively conversation already 🙂

There are literally centuries of lived diabetes experience on the forum and members at all stages of their diabetes life, and using all sorts of medications and technologies (or none!)... but all committed to learning more about their own diabetes management, and in supporting each other towards better BGs, and lower effort.

Well done on the c25k! I‘ve done a little distance running over the years, and it is definitely a bug you can get bitten by! My experience was that once you could comfortably run 5k without stopping, it was very easy to up that to 10k at a similar pace, and from 10k a half marathon was easy to build to... So you’ll be running marathons before you know it! @Northerner is a very experienced runner, and his advice to me when I started was to get some good shoes.

You may find extod a useful source of information about exercise and diabetes management. http://www.extod.org/

Ask away about pumps too if you are interested. I think everyone who starts on a pump does so with a degree of nervousness and anxiety... but the vast majority soon say that they would never want to go back.

I found major advantages in precision and tweakability (especially in terms of accurate basal coverage), plus major benefits around activity and ‘tricky meals’ like pizza, because you can dial down or stop basal, and spread the action of meal doses over extended periods.

Some early thoughts about my experience here: https://www.everydayupsanddowns.co.uk/2012/01/pumping-for-two-months-little-bit-of.html

 

[Bec2015]

Thanks for the welcome @Ralph-YK, my diagnosis was quite close to yours in April 2015.

Hi @Goldiebrowse, I'm still struggling with the post exercise reactions. No 2 runs have been the same so far! I've found that I seem to fair better if I hydrate but don't eat before a run. I would love to be able to work towards reducing my background insulin, I'm on split injections currently and my morning amount seems to be creeping up slowly. I'm looking forward to learning how to better manage all of this, I don't want my fear of what will happen to my blood sugars to stop me doing things anymore.

@trophywench things always happen when you're on you're own and all the helplines are closed! My consultant wanted to discuss a pump further at my next outpatient appt which was meant to be in August, but has already been cancelled. I feel like there is less support at the moment from DSNs and consultants due to the pandemic, and I'm worried about swapping to something completely different. I'm sure I'd be able to adjust in time, when I was first diagnosed I was scared of needles and I had to get over that very quickly!

Thanks for the links @everydayupsanddowns, I'll definitely check them out. At the moment the runs still feel hard, we'll see if I've bitten by the bug when I finish c25k! One thing that does concern me about pumps is that my consultant suggested that you don't have much control over what type of pump you are given by the trust (if your application is accepted). I like to feel as though I have some control over my healthcare, the idea that I'd have no say worries me. Maybe you could shed some light on that?

Thanks everyone, I can already tell that this is such a supportive community 🙂

 

[freesia]

Welcome to the forum @Bec2015. As everyone has said, its friendly, informative and theres always someone here if you just want to rant. I was diagnosed 2 years ago at the age of 54, I don't know anyone else who has T1 either so its been brilliant for me as no one else understands the feelings you get when your levels are high or low.

Just a question to all who have replied, i notice the majority of you have consultants. I have only ever seen my DSN or GP (for the annual check), never been to hospital or been referred to anyone other than the DSN. Is this something that should have been done?

 

[Bruce Stephens]

Hi @Goldiebrowse, I'm still struggling with the post exercise reactions. No 2 runs have been the same so far! I've found that I seem to fair better if I hydrate but don't eat before a run. I would love to be able to work towards reducing my background insulin, I'm on split injections currently and my morning amount seems to be creeping up slowly. I'm looking forward to learning how to better manage all of this, I don't want my fear of what will happen to my blood sugars to stop me doing things anymore.

You've probably already seen them, but Abbott have done webinars on exercise. There are recordings,

 

[Bec2015]

Just a question to all who have replied, i notice the majority of you have consultants. I have only ever seen my DSN or GP (for the annual check), never been to hospital or been referred to anyone other than the DSN. Is this something that should have been done?

I think the important thing is that you're having an annual check. There are pros and cons to having your reviews with consultants at hospital or with DSNs and GPs at your local surgery. I started having my reviews with a consultant at my local hospital because I was admitted when I was diagnosed as T1D. I chose to carry on this way, because I felt the consultant knew more about up to date diabetes care related things - such as trials, new tech etc. I got my 0.5 unit pen from my consultant, and I'm lucky enough to get my Libre sensor on prescription thanks to his involvement. I feel that I wouldn't necessarily have had the same opportunities if I was having my annual reviews at my local surgery. However, the waiting time for appts with the consultant is longer. So a lot of the time, I'll go longer between reviews than I really should. I still feel that it's been beneficial for me to keep having my reviews this way. There's nothing wrong with having reviews with your GP and DSNs if you feel that your care plan is working for you, though I do think that your GP can refer you to a diabetes clinic at a hospital with a consultant if that's what you want. I hope this all made sense.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I like to feel as though I have some control over my healthcare, the idea that I'd have no say worries me. Maybe you could shed some light on that?

I think it partly depends in where you live. Certain areas seem to specialise in only one or two different options, so their DSNs aren’t necessarily fully trained up to help with other types.

Certain CCGs also are sometimes rumoured to have made deals with one manufacturer to get a bulk discount, but I have no way of knowing if there is any truth in that.

I think the national guidance suggests that ideally you should have the option of any pump that suits your needs.

In my area you are pretty much able to choose any current model I think.

Having said that... At the most basic level they all do the same things, and the main benefits will apply no matter which one you have.

Do you know which one(s) your area offers?

 

[Goldiebrowse]

Thanks for the welcome @Ralph-YK, my diagnosis was quite close to yours in April 2015.

Hi @Goldiebrowse, I'm still struggling with the post exercise reactions. No 2 runs have been the same so far! I've found that I seem to fair better if I hydrate but don't eat before a run. I would love to be able to work towards reducing my background insulin, I'm on split injections currently and my morning amount seems to be creeping up slowly. I'm looking forward to learning how to better manage all of this, I don't want my fear of what will happen to my blood sugars to stop me doing things anymore.

@trophywench things always happen when you're on you're own and all the helplines are closed! My consultant wanted to discuss a pump further at my next outpatient appt which was meant to be in August, but has already been cancelled. I feel like there is less support at the moment from DSNs and consultants due to the pandemic, and I'm worried about swapping to something completely different. I'm sure I'd be able to adjust in time, when I was first diagnosed I was scared of needles and I had to get over that very quickly!

Thanks for the links @everydayupsanddowns, I'll definitely check them out. At the moment the runs still feel hard, we'll see if I've bitten by the bug when I finish c25k! One thing that does concern me about pumps is that my consultant suggested that you don't have much control over what type of pump you are given by the trust (if your application is accepted). I like to feel as though I have some control over my healthcare, the idea that I'd have no say worries me. Maybe you could shed some light on that?

Thanks everyone, I can already tell that this is such a supportive community 🙂

I have noticed that if my hydration levels drop I do suffer hypos quicker. I’ve been on 4 injections, 3 for daily and 1 background so this may have a bearing on your exercising. I’ve just completed a 160km ride and unlike my training rides my sugars didn’t spike after exercise, the morning rise maybe caused by dawn syndrome. Being on a libre helped massively with this. Don’t let your body defy you, it’s just working out it’s quirks and unfortunately we are all different and respond as such 🙂

 

[Bec2015]

Do you know which one(s) your area offers?

I'm not 100% sure of the options available, but my consultant has discussed the OmniPod in the past and most recently he was telling me about the Medtronic which also comes with it's own CGM. I believe there are other options, but I don't know their names.

I'm a very clumsy person by nature, and I feel like anything with tubing is asking for trouble! It would just be another thing that could go wrong in the middle of the night when there are no specialists available to help talk me through things.

If you don't mind me asking, what pump are you using at the moment? And if you've used others in the past as well, which was your most positive experience overall?

Thanks!

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

If you don't mind me asking, what pump are you using at the moment? And if you've used others in the past as well, which was your most positive experience overall?

I am using the Medtronic MM640G with self-funded sensors (allowing ‘Smartguard’, predictive low glucose suspend which hugely reduces my time spent below 4.0).

I am just about to switch to the Tandem tSlim (and will again be self-funding sensors for as much of the year as I can). which has basal IQ, and as of next week I think control IQ (which helps to prevent highs as well as hypos).

@MrDaibetes is on the fancy new MM670G, and the MM780G - even fancier again! - is due for European rollout very soon.

My first pump was a Minimed/Medtronic Veo.

@stephknits uses an Omnipod I think.

 

[Bec2015]

@everydayupsanddowns There are just so many options, and it's such a personal condition. What works for one person may not work for another, unfortunately it seems as though you have to commit to a pump for a few years without even knowing if it is the right option for you. As you mentioned earlier, you don't know if particular CCGs would push a particular pump over others, even if it isn't the best fit for the patient. We'll see what happens after my next review!

I hear you @Goldiebrowse, I definitely suffer with dawn phenomenon. I wake up fighting rising blood sugars straight away. That's why I quite like going for a run early, it really helps to counteract the rise. We live and learn and it comes to finding out what works for each of us! Also, congratulations on the 160km ride!

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

unfortunately it seems as though you have to commit to a pump for a few years without even knowing if it is the right option for you.

Yep you pretty much sign up for 4 years, but I do know people who have negotiated to exit early or swap pumps if they really didn’t work out.

Just know you aren’t the only one to have been ‘pump averse’ - i was for a good 2 years before I took the plunge.

You have to get to thinking it is at least worth trying and giving it a decent go, I think (early wins were easy, but it took me a year to really begin to find my feet with it). And hey... you can always switch back, right? 🙂

 

[stephknits]

I do have an Omnipod, which is tubeless - you just stick the pod on wherever you want to put it. It comes with a PDM which is essentially a mobile phone just for the pump. It suits me cos I like being tubeless and not having to take the thing off to go swimming or in the shower, but there are advantages to all the pumps. Took me a while to get my head round the idea of a pump, but now I have one you wouldn't get it off me!

 

[Goldiebrowse]

@everydayupsanddowns There are just so many options, and it's such a personal condition. What works for one person may not work for another, unfortunately it seems as though you have to commit to a pump for a few years without even knowing if it is the right option for you. As you mentioned earlier, you don't know if particular CCGs would push a particular pump over others, even if it isn't the best fit for the patient. We'll see what happens after my next review!

I hear you @Goldiebrowse, I definitely suffer with dawn phenomenon. I wake up fighting rising blood sugars straight away. That's why I quite like going for a run early, it really helps to counteract the rise. We live and learn and it comes to finding out what works for each of us! Also, congratulations on the 160km ride!

Many thanks @Bec2015 did feel it this morning but have loosened the legs up now. It’s the needing to but your body saying ‘right I’m now going load up your sugars just for fun’ 😉 Got to love being diabetic!!

 

[Flower]

Hello and welcome @Bec2015 , glad you've joined us 🙂

Joining this forum and finding out so much more about diabetes and reading what works for others - highs, lows and all points in between - has helped me so much, I hope it helps you too. Glad to hear the Libre is proving so useful. 🙂

 

[Bec2015]

@everydayupsanddowns oh I would definitely say it's worth giving a go. Everyone I've come across in youtube videos and things, have all said they couldn't go back to MDIs. It's just such a big change and adjustment, it's good to know that there are other people who were sceptical at first but were won over in the end.

Thanks for replying @stephknits, it's good to know that there are tubeless options available. As I mentioned earlier, I'm extremely clumsy! I think that ease of use is something which is important to me, so we'll see what is suggested at my next appt. It is really comforting knowing that other people took a while to come around to the idea of a pump as well, sometimes my partner gets annoyed with me for clinging to my pens and I find it quite difficult to try and explain that reaction to him.

Thanks for the welcome @Flower! I already feel like this forum really will help me to do more than just survive with this condition. It's nice to know that there are people with answers who have been in similar situations, rather than giving a textbook answer (though those can be helpful too!).

Thanks again everyone! 🙂