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Penny Spore's List: Diabetes
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There is no easy solution to combat high blood sugars before, during, or even after exercise since each person's diabetes is individualized. There are techniques to try to help minimize the increase. For instance, as long as the healthcare team approves insulin may be used prior to the activity if levels are too high to start. It is recommended to be conservative with this approach since exercise and insulin can cause a rapid drop in blood sugar causing levels to go too low. If 1 unit of insulin usually drops the blood sugar 50 points try ½ of a unit figuring on the same 50 point drop. The only way to determine the right amount of insulin to use is to check blood sugars more often and look for patterns rather than just one attempt. If high blood sugar is a problem during the event give the insulin ~30 mins prior to the start to give it time to work.
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Another suggestion is to drink water when blood sugars are high. This helps in a couple of ways. It helps lower blood sugars and washes away ketones if they are present. It also helps hydrate the body which is often dehydrated due to high blood sugars. During strenuous exercise the blood sugar may merely rise due to dehydration. In this case simply drinking water will help return levels to normal without using insulin. Whether you have diabetes or not staying hydrated will help performance especially in the last part of games when fatigue plays a significant role in winning or losing. A good rule to follow is to drink two glasses (16oz) two hours prior to activity, one glass (8 oz) an half hour to an hour before and 4-6 oz every 15-20 minutes during activity.
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