Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Sarapova24 on December 5, 2012 at 6:26pm

I have been a pump user for about 5 years and I have finally found what I think is the key to exercise and the pump! It depends on what sport/exercise you are doing but when I play tennis (which is usually for an hour or more - singles) I check my BS between every game and I bring those little juice boxes that are 100% juice and have under/around 15 grams of sugar in them. Just make sure to check your BS every 10-15 minutes depending on how you are feeling. If I exercise and find it's in the 80s, I usually will need HALF a juice box. You really need to gauge it to your levels because the key is to adjust the amount of sugar you are taking in according to the movement of your blood sugar. If it's 80 and going down to 75 in the 10 minutes, I drink some juice, but if it's 80 and rising, I will continue to play. It is all about looking at the bigger picture! I hope this helps you. Just hang in there and don't stop exercising because it's frustrating. Oh yea, and my doctor did mention that I should simply reduce my basal rate to as low as 50% while exercising but that doesn't really suit me. Again, I hope this helps you!

Permalink Reply by KML on December 5, 2012 at 6:43pm

Thanks Sara!

Permalink Reply by Diego on December 5, 2012 at 7:16pm

I am doing P90X and found that at first I was all over the place but as I Keep consistent with it I have found that I have been using less insulin and have been in better control.

Permalink Reply by KML on December 5, 2012 at 7:32pm

i'm not new to exercising, just pumping, but I agree Diego.

Permalink Reply by DiabeticRunner83 on December 6, 2012 at 5:50am

I am also new to pumping. I started Nov 1st and I have not excersised yet. I LOVE to run I have been doing it for three and half years but I am waiting on that until I get used to the pump and get my rates straightened out. I do however have a physical job, I am a CNA and I do find that on some nights when I am really moving at work I have to set my basal rate back to 70% because I start to drop, sometimes I even have to pop a few tabs to steady out the drop even if it is a little higher which does balance me out. So basically start by adjusting basal rates when you workout to find the best rate for working out then test test test. I know that for the most part when I was on shots and I would do my 3 mile/30 min run I would drop about 80-100 points however there would be those times where I would not drop at all or even go up. Sometimes you just go up when you excerise, my Dr told me that is not all that uncommon. Once I start running again the first thing I am doing is dropping my basal down 50% because since I have been on the pump my sugars have been working themselves out of the really high numbers and I have been gaining better control. I also have the sensor which I do like but from what I have been told you can't count on that during excersise because of the rapid changes you get while excersising. Good Luck!

Nicole

Permalink Reply by Elizabeth on December 6, 2012 at 6:32am

Does your pump have a "temp basal" setting? What I often do with my son is, if he is in the lower half of his range before going out to play, I will set a temp basal of 50% of his normal setting for 1 hour. If it's hot out, I'll decrease it 65%. Then I test again in an hour and see where he's at. The beauty of a temp basal setting is that it returns the pump to the original setting without anyone having to remember to make the switch.

The alternative is to give him a juice box and not cover it, knowing he'll burn it off. But sometimes he burns off more than the juice provides!

Permalink Reply by DiabeticRunner83 on December 6, 2012 at 6:39am

I LOVE the temp basal settting!! It is so much nicer then when I was on Lantus, I love being able to set it at whatever % for however many hours I think I will need it and like you said I LOVE that the pump goes back to the regular setting without you having to remember to do that!