T1 Diabetes and Running

[ajr9393]

Aged 31, just two weeks ago I was rushed into resus in DKA and diagnosed with T1 diabetes.

What a whirlwind.

I was a keen runner, and actually had the worst run of my life at parkrun the Saturday before the Tuesday I was in DKA! And now I know why.

I would like to start running again but the anxiety to do so is real! I’m reaching out for some tips of timings for eating / rapid insulin / running etc.

This morning I went out and did just 1mile. As I wanted to see what my body would do.

So I woke up and my sugars were a little high around 12.5. I had my usual lantus and I ate 1x digestive biscuit and off I went. Came home and sugars were quite high. Guessing as it was a short one my body had released sugar and it was yet to start coming down.

I then took a smaller dose of novarapid (3units instead of 5) and had my breakfast. My sugars returned to green zone around 1.5hrs later.

Is this the right way to do it?

I’ve felt quite tired this afternoon.

I have always been a wake up, have 2x choc digestives and run, but maybe I need to change my habits. Any advice welcome from an anxious newly diagnosed t1.

 

[Inka]

Welcome @ajr9393 🙂 Having had DKA so recently and just been diagnosed, you’d be better off leaving the running for a while and focussing on resting and supporting your body’s recovery (with rest and food). That could well be why you felt tired.

Also, your insulin needs are still being established and you’re still getting used to things. Although it’s tempting to carry on as normal, taking it easier to begin with will benefit you in the long run. I appreciate a mile isn’t a long run, but resting is better for now 🙂 It will also be much easier to calculate your strategies later on, allowing you to return to a more usual exercise schedule for you.

 

[SimonP]

Once you are sorted (or at the very least recovered from the DKA ordeal) have a look in here: https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/forums/exercise-sport.15/ and search for e.g. "running" - there are quite a few people posting what they do. From memory (I don't run, too inefficient and slow 😉) it's generally a case of taking pre-exercise bolus.

 

[counsellorneil]

Great advice above. Give yourself a couple of weeks to recover from the DKA and browse the linked forum for running.

Unfortunately our bodies all respond in unique ways to our diabetes. There are some general trends, but even then things can go awry. But that’s to be expected. Especially when exercising. I can run one day and have brilliant glucose running a half marathon. Another it all goes to ****. One thing I’d recommend is allowing yourself some grace when that happens. Its not that you’ve done anything wrong, it’s just your diabetes on a particular day.

However, know that you definitely can get back to running, whether you run fast or slow (like me, being more than twice your age ) it’s very doable. You will need to experiment somewhat, as you’ve already started to do. Running fast or slow can affect your glucose levels differently too. Anaerobic exercise tends to increase glucose levels, which faster running is. Aerobic exercise tends to lower glucose levels, which slow running is. I say tends as again bodies can differ slightly.

Running with diabetes is possible. I’ve only been running for about 4 years now. I do it for enjoyment, fitness and to say to my diabetes, you don’t control me, I control you. Occasionally she kicks back and I have a crappy run, but I carry on . Any questions please feel free to ask.