Last weekend’s trip to DC for the TCOYD conference meant arriving at my hotel late last Friday afternoon. The first thing I did was check out the layout of the hotel. In the basement was a pretty good looking gym setup. Getting a workout in before dinner would have been nice . . . . but all I could think about was what might happen to my blood sugar after a late-day workout. Sleeping alone in a king-size bed sounded kind of nice - with no snoring husband and no cat whose favorite sleep spot is stretched out across me. But sleeping alone if a bad low hit? That sounded very scary and brought a huge wave of homesickness over me.What do you think? Have you ever let the fears of how exercise might impact your blood sugar deter you? In a situation like this, is it better to be cautious? Or is it worse to let diabetes derail the opportunity for a good workout?
Hey Karen, I don't have any advice, since I don't deal with insulin, but my gut reaction is that you did the right thing. That seems like a situation where fear is justified. I myself was really surprised when I participated in the Big Blue Test to see how dramatically exercise can lower my bg. If I don't eat right before I exercise I can get low. While my lows aren't fun they aren't scary like yours are! So give yourself a break. I don't think you were finding excuses, I think you were being the smart woman that you are.
ReplyDeleteI have been afraid to exercise for fear of the coming lows. Mine aren't usually delayed like into the night but hit me in the car going home or in the grocery on my way home. I was trying not to snack because I knew I'd be eating a meal shortly. Now, I snack. It works for me.
ReplyDeleteYou're not afraid of exercise - just the aftermath when alone. So, I agree, skipping it was probably the right thing to do.
ReplyDeleteIn this case, I think you're right. I sometimes think about not working out because of a possible low later, but I figure I can't learn how to manage it if I don't try. So I go anyway. But I work out almost exclusively in the (very) early morning, so I don't have to worry as much about hitting a low while asleep. And alone.
ReplyDeleteSo give yourself a break this time... in this case, caution is the better part of valor (or something like that).
Hey, Karen! I guess I'm in the same boat, but I'm leaning way off on the side of being afraid of exercise. For a couple of years, a couple of years ago, my doctor neglected to diagnose adrenal dysfunction, even though the primary symptom was sudden, unpredictable low, low blood sugars -- in the 20s. More than half the time, I'd pass out -- I knocked my old computer off the desk a dozen times, at least. Anyway, after I had to give up my driver's license, my doctor said, "I wonder if we should test you for adrenal insufficiency. This is one of the major symptoms." Well thanks, doc. Anyway, now the condition is responding to hydrocortisone, and I finally began walking last spring. My blood sugar still dropped, every time, but at least I wasn't falling over, passing out and banging my head. I carry three or four of those foil packets of juice, and drink them at regular intervals. Seems to work.
ReplyDeleteI think you were brave to go to the basement by yourself!
ReplyDeleteI'd also be afraid of the lows. I usually have some aftermath lows from swimming, but otherwise my exercise lows are immediate. The one thing that doesn't seem to make me low? Running. Walking is a definite, swimming is a sometimes, and running NEVER makes me low.
ReplyDeleteI think you did the right thing. And if you ever figure out how to deal with the hatred of exercise, let me know! I could use some tips...