Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Excuses, Excuses . . . . .

“Regular” people (aka: people without diabetes) can have plenty of reasons for not going to the gym.  Busy schedules, poor sleep, feel like they’re getting sick, or don’t want to disturb the cat on their lap.  (By the way, I’m totally going to start using that last excuse!!)

trapped
Clearly she is thrilled that she has to skip the gym because there is a cat on her lap!

When I add diabetes into the mix, I can come up with about a million other reasons not to go to the gym.  For the past couple of weeks the main excuse I was fighting was one that was actually a first for me . . . .

Going to the gym makes me high.

Now I know weight training can push your blood sugars up.  I also know strenuous workouts can push your blood sugar up.  But, for the first time ever, moderate cardio was pushing my blood sugar up (and keeping it there) instead of down.  And I found it frustrating!!

I will give myself a little bit of credit.  I refused to let the fact that going to the gym would lead to an afternoon in the 200s deter me.  I tried upping my basals after my workout was done.  (Didn’t work.)  I tried adding a post-workout bolus into the mix.  (Didn’t work.)  But most importantly, I reasoned it out.  Is it good to spend an afternoon stuck over 200?  No, of course not.  However, is it better to be a couch potato with in-range numbers, or be an active fit person who is working on taming some post-exercise highs?  I decided the second definitely wins out (even if I don’t exactly qualify as active and fit yet).

So the gym is happening.  It’s hard - both physically and “diabetically”.  But it’s happening.  And after my last trip I felt awesome and managed to stay under 200 . . . . .  so I guess I’m getting there.   I’m absolutely determined to keep it up this time.

You know, unless I’m stuck under a sleeping cat or something.

6 comments:

  1. I am so impressed with your determination! I'm sure you'll push through the tough numbers and your health will be all the better for it!

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  2. Good for you! Just a quick reminder to hydrate... a lot. That's always my problem when I'm high after working out. When I drink a lot of water after a strenuous workout, I feel better, and my numbers are better too. Keep it up... sounds like you're doing great!

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  3. Just keep going! Glad it's not stopping you. Someone I know told me that her pre-exercise BG will determine if it rises or falls during exercise. Just frustrating when there's no rhyme or reason to it!

    -Ali

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  4. Good for you! It is hard and you are doing a great job.

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  5. good for you Karen! I am starting my low/no carb plan today, and after that becomes a habit (perhaps by Monday lol!) i will start with the treadmill AGAIN!
    hoping to lose a few pounds and start to feel better!

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  6. It took me, literally, years of experimenting with everything to find a formula that (mostly) works for my basketball sessions. Even then, there are days when I follow my plan and diabetes doesn't cooperate.

    My endo once told me that exercising introduces SO many variables into the diabetes mix that it makes management really difficult - but that the benefits of exercise are worth it.

    Stick with it!

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