It’s Saturday morning and the summer heat and humidity has hit Kansas City. Was looking forward to cycling 30 miles with friends until … I woke up with a blood sugar of 320. Crap … what to do? Try and bolus it down with insulin? That means active insulin during the ride. Or just nurse it down and skip the ride. Possibly ride later – when it’s really gonna be warm.
I chose to take 75% of my normal correction bolus and ride (this was 2 hours before the ride). Thought I got it right as I was still running 270 as I drove to the starting point of the ride. But my number as the ride started was 114. Although the Novolog had likely peaked, I was going to have active insulin during the ride. Time to eat.
The ride turned out ok. I could feel myself going low during the first hour, so I continued to consume quick acting carbs. At various checkpoints on the ride I was 99, 72, and 114. Ended the ride at 66. And I had decent energy throughout the ride. I consider myself fortunate to get through this ride without going too low.
What I do different? Bolus 1/3 to 1/2 of my correction bolus instead of 3/4. That would have avoided the low blood sugar to start the ride and reduced the amount of active/peaking insulin during.
Always stuff to think about when exercising with diabetes… but it was worth it. It was nice to socialize with friends while getting the positive buzz and benefits of exercise.
