TRIATHLONS WITH OUT HITTING THE WALL

[Bazz]

I am a 61 year old male who is fit (according to VO2 MAX and other indicators) I have type 1 diabetes and take Apidra (bolus) and Lantus (basal) insulin by injection. I do not use a CGM as they are rather expensive in my neck of the woods. When it comes to racing my results do not support my fitness indicators. After about an hour into my racing it seems as if I run into a brick wall. I need advice regarding nutrition before and during the race but perhaps more importantly how much Apidra and Lantus to use before and during the race.
currently 5 units x 3 times Apidra and 18 units x 1 Lantus (taken around 10:00pm)

 

[ianf0ster]

Hi @Bazz What sort of food do you eat?
Are you aware that Dr Ian Lake (a GP and Type 1 diabetic, James Cracknell UK Olympian) his Type 1 Brother-in -law and some others including Type 2 diabetics ran/walked 4 marathons in 5 days (actually 4 and a half) fasting! No actual food at all though the Type 1's did have glucose tablets which they took once or twice when alerted to nearing hypo BG levels.

They were able to do this because they had adopted a Low Carb traditional fat 'way of eating' for long enough to become 'fat adapted'.
Also a 'patient' of Dr Aseem Malhotra (a Type 2) completed the famous 'Iron Man Triathlon' several times after becoming fat adapted. The only downside of using fat for fuel is that it's best for longer events rather than for explosive sprint events - which is where carbohydrates come into their own for professional athletes.

Prof Tim Noakes has writen some books since he cured his Type 2 diabetes with Low Carb. He had always specialised in sports medicine and changed hi view on carb-loading com0pletely after trying Low Carb for himself.

The downside for a Type 1 on Low Carb is that you will haver to monitor carefully during the transition so that you don't inject too much Insulin.

 

[Drummer]

I go out playing music for dancing, but have often found myself demonstrating and teaching in the middle of the afternoon as I am the only one with any energy left. Even with everyone bringing out their sandwiches or other carb laden lunches, it seems to make them, if anything, less energetic.
I eat morning and evening, at 12 hour intervals, as that fuels me wonderfully well.

 

[Inka]

How interesting, Drummer. I too am super-energetic and I put that down to my intake of healthy carbs - yes, including sandwiches

@Bazz I suggest you take a look at the Runsweet website:

http://www.runsweet.com/

It’s set up for Type 1s.


This site is also recommended and again for Type 1s:

http://www.extod.org/

When I did long-distance hikes, I found I got better results not reducing my basal too much but reducing my boluses more. It’s a balance and not always easy because sometimes you can have a rebound effect later. I didn’t eat Low Carb High Fat because I prefer to keep my insulin sensitivity and I’m personally not at all convinced it’s a good idea. Type 1 is hard enough without adding insulin resistance to the mix along with other issues.

 

[Drummer]

I am not super energetic, though. I just have more staying power than a 20 year old.
I am also unbelievably infuriating on cold wet mornings before dawn being packed and ready to leave and looking for a patch of level ground on which to dance up the sun. Several times I have had to remind those not so good at getting up that I no longer qualified as a suitable victim for human sacrifice.

 

[Inka]

Ah, stamina then. I think that partly increases as we age due to sheer persistence and focus. So a bit of a mental thing as well as physical, ie we become more determined.

Now, the getting up early bit I can’t claim a special skill for. I put that down to having young children and not always getting as much sleep as I want!

 

[Bazz]

How interesting, Drummer. I too am super-energetic and I put that down to my intake of healthy carbs - yes, including sandwiches

@Bazz I suggest you take a look at the Runsweet website:

http://www.runsweet.com/

It’s set up for Type 1s.


This site is also recommended and again for Type 1s:

http://www.extod.org/

When I did long-distance hikes, I found I got better results not reducing my basal too much but reducing my boluses more. It’s a balance and not always easy because sometimes you can have a rebound effect later. I didn’t eat Low Carb High Fat because I prefer to keep my insulin sensitivity and I’m personally not at all convinced it’s a good idea. Type 1 is hard enough without adding insulin resistance to the mix along with other issues.

 

[Bazz]

Thanks for the valuable input I have a low carb diet and eat some fats however mainly protein. I will definitely look into low card high fat. As I said my problem occurs after about an hour into my race.
Cheers

 

[Bazz]

Hi @Bazz What sort of food do you eat?
Are you aware that Dr Ian Lake (a GP and Type 1 diabetic, James Cracknell UK Olympian) his Type 1 Brother-in -law and some others including Type 2 diabetics ran/walked 4 marathons in 5 days (actually 4 and a half) fasting! No actual food at all though the Type 1's did have glucose tablets which they took once or twice when alerted to nearing hypo BG levels.

They ware able to do this because they had adopted a Low Carb traditional fat 'way of eating' for long enough to become 'fat adapted'.
Also a 'patient' of Dr Aseem Malhotra (a Type 2) completed the famous 'Iron Man Triathlon' several times after becoming fat adapted. The only downside of using fat for fuel is that it's best for longer events rather than for explosive sprint events - which is where carbohydrates come into their own for professional athletes.

Prof Tim Noakes has writen some books since he cured his Type 2 diabetes with Low Carb. He had always specialised in sports medicine and changed hi view on carb-loading com0pletely after trying Low Carb for himself.

The downside for a Type 1 on Low Carb is that you will haver to monitor carefully during the transition so that you don't inject too much Insulin.

Thank you for the response and I will definitely take your suggestions further. You have been a great help

 

[Drummer]

Thanks for the valuable input I have a low carb diet and eat some fats however mainly protein. I will definitely look into low card high fat. As I said my problem occurs after about an hour into my race.
Cheers

Although it is termed high fat, it is really just a more normal amount of fat, not influenced by the low fat mantra which has gone on for so long with no serious checking being done.

 

[Bazz]

got it thanks

 

[Benny G]

Hi @Bazz, speaking from my own experience of cycling and jogging, yes i have hit the wall and it's usually down to too much basal. If you can ask you diabetes team for a trial libre you will see it. An hour of strenuous exercise requires almost no basal, if you were using a pump you could set a temporary basal rate, but Lantus is a once a day job so is difficult to fine tune. I don't use a pump but I switched from Lantus to Levemir to allow split doses, half units, and more utility. I also got a half unit bolus pen to help with small doses.
I have also been eating low carb for the last 3 years.

My advice is to discuss Levemir and Libre with your specialist.

 

[Bazz]

Thanks Benny,
I think you may have hit it out the park for me as I have been increasing my basal intake the night before events, believing it would carry me through a 3 hr + race. Definitely will apply your input. Cheers