Working outside

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Permalink Reply by Gerri on May 12, 2009 at 4:18pm

Not exactly the same as your summer job, but I work in my garden constantly in the summer. Physical exertion in the sun causes me to have lows, not the same as exercising. I test a lot, eat more or lower insulin doses, keep water handy, have snacks & jelly beans close at hand. Can't stand those glucose tablet--bleech. If you keep testing, you'll be fine.

Also, get a Frio cooler wallet for your insulin. Think there's a discount available as a Tu D member. Check out the "Discounts for Members" link on the left. Frio wallets are great! You can't take a chance of your insulin getting too warm.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Hagen on May 12, 2009 at 4:38pm

I worked outside doing construction for years. The big question is will you be alone? I almost always had someone with me. They could let me know if I was showing signs of a low. I ate a decent breakfast then about 2 hours later a snack and then lunch and 2 hours later snack. Checking sugar and shooting at lunch. Now, I would check bs at breaks as well. No sense taking chances. If you are going to be alone definately check at break. Also I had a couple of issues on the really hot days going low. Your body is working harder to keep you cool so you are expending more energy then you think. When it is really hot check at break and be careful. There is no reason we can't do what everyone else does, we just have to think about it ahead of time. The cooler for your insulin is a good idea. I just put mine in with my lunch. I was on a pen which made it easy. Be aware of how exercise affects your bs and prepare to be super active even if you should be on a mower all day. I got caught a couple times with minimal food, dumb on my part. Good luck.

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Permalink Reply by Don on May 12, 2009 at 4:42pm

Try a combo of lower long-acting and lower meal insulin doses. Take a lower dose of your long-acting just for days you work. You could try 1 unit less at first and make the rest of your adjustments via meal insulin. If If I work in the yard for more than an hour I get miserable lows but because I don't do yardwork regularly I rarely remember to adjust my Lantus dose ahead of time so I reduce my meal insulin. The kind of activity you are describing is active enough that it will probably drive your bg down even after you stop moving, so don't be surprised if your bg continues to drop even after knocking off work. I've been able to eat a candy bar without taking insulin just doing yardwork (which normally would shoot me way, way high).

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Permalink Reply by Domo! on May 12, 2009 at 6:13pm

i handle freight all night long, i just make sure i have snacks handy and that i eat my meals.

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Permalink Reply by NyJonesy26/Ken on May 12, 2009 at 6:13pm

Thanks for the responses :) I was thinking of taking maybe one less unit of Novolog with my meals that day, or taking one or two sugar tabs while I'm working. Heh, my mom was thinking of having me work at McDonald's instead, but I don't think I'd like working around that food all day.

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Permalink Reply by Domo! on May 12, 2009 at 6:40pm

i worked in a Mexican restaurant, but i was able to find some healthy alternatives. But it did suck when people would order my favorites like chicken nachos, with all that cheese on top. Mcdonalds sounds like it would suck to work there and you would smell like french fries all the time.

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Permalink Reply by Gerri on May 12, 2009 at 6:54pm

I'd rather be outside than working with all that grease, not to mention the joy of working with the public--eeeek!

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Permalink Reply by Domo! on May 12, 2009 at 7:01pm

his public will be the dead, what if he gets nightmares! that could mean more lows!

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Permalink Reply by Gerri on May 12, 2009 at 7:05pm

LOL! Was thinking how peaceful it would be.

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Permalink Reply by Domo! on May 12, 2009 at 7:14pm

i think it would be kinda creepy >< especially if he fell in one of the graves he just dug. Or what if there was a funeral, and then everybody left, and then your all alone... ahhhh creepy

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Permalink Reply by Gerri on May 12, 2009 at 7:21pm

You're so funny:) Sounds like Jonesy will be doing grounds maintenance. Bet they have machinery to dig graves, or I hope they do.

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Permalink Reply by Domo! on May 12, 2009 at 7:29pm

might be one of those old fashion grave yards, lol. Anything is better then tempting mcdonald fries, burgers, icecream.. etc. It would be so hard!

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