Exercise and diabetes

Exercise and diabetes

we will to talk here for the experience of the British player famous marathon Gary Blakie with diabetes, how he was able to overcome his illness and the practice of his sport he loves?

Gary Blakey injury diagnosed diabetes type I at the age of 12 years. This injury did not constitute an obstacle to him to represent the United Kingdom in the World Championships marathon trio to age class. How faced his illness and was able to adjust to him? How nutrition and athletic training and activity systems?

You his answers to the following questions:

What was your reaction when diagnosed with diabetes of injury from the first style?

"I diagnosed my injury diabetes when I was 12 years old, on a family vacation in the United States. I always feel bad condition, and go to the toilet a lot, I was not aware of any bad thing has struck me. It was just a shock, despite not knowing any thing about diabetes during the first few days, or what it means to this diagnosis. "

Is your attitude towards sport and physical activity change?

Not quite so. But I just wanted to proceed as I was doing before, I did not participate any sport stressful time, but my father and uncles were always involved triple marathon and my mother works as a treatment Sports, sports and so formed part of my life. "When I was 13 years old, I began to exercise jogging with my father. I had learned then how to adjust blood sugar I have, and now I'm trying to maintain consistent levels of sugar blood sugar during exercise (can cause physical activity decrease in blood sugar dramatically levels or rise in very large). It is not surprising that I committed a lot of mistakes in the beginning, but I learn every time you sin against them. "

Is diabetes inevitably increases the difficulty of training in sports stressful?

"I participated in the marathon trio of running through. It was my first race in 2001, and began the progress since then." The main problem during training in the control of blood sugar levels with diet. When I started sports exercise, there was not much information available, so it has become a much relied on to speculate and guess, you experience insulin injections and eat at different times of the exercise. I was always trying to maintain a stable blood sugar levels throughout the period of the exercise. "I learned a lot about how the body's response to different kinds of activities and various foods. For example, the swim for one hour tend to reduce blood sugar levels in about 3 mmol / liter. So if you start swimming blood sugar level equivalent to 5.6, I expect that I needed Some foods to eat in the middle of the pool. " "Like any patient with diabetes, I know when high blood sugar levels dramatically, then I feel tired and thirsty, and will beat my heart speed dramatically increase. But if glucose levels dropped dramatically, I'd be tired and lack of energy. Will not be things are fine in any of the cases when my practice jogging, swimming or riding a bike as soon as possible. "

Do you encounter problems in the first races?

"Yes, during my first participation in the triple marathon, I stopped intermittently and began to measure blood sugar levels I have. It is clear that this is not an ideal situation: in 30 seconds in the marathon trio may cost the rider five places." It took nearly three years to find a diet suitable for my case.That did not include the stop for testing or insulin injections during the race.For example, in a marathon triple fast do I swim for a distance of 400 meters.Then ride a bike L13 miles, then run three extra miles. The blood sugar levels at the beginning of the race equivalent to about 5.6, which is an excellent level, but it has become at the end of the race beyond 19 or 20. "So I decided to take the least amount of long-acting insulin (long-standing) and instead take a dose of short-acting insulin before the race directly . prevent this from high blood sugar levels have a high degree. But he then began to exposure to hypoglycemia, where blood sugar have become very low. "

Did you get a suitable system now?

"Yes, I was able in 2005 to reach a suitable system to insulin. In that year, participated by about eight races. Was the best one when represented the United Kingdom team at the World Championship in Hawaii. That was a great feeling." The system, which followed different and depends too much on the race. In a marathon triple rapid Championship, taking 15 units of long-acting insulin in the night before the race. In the morning, taking about 15 to 20 additional unit of long-acting insulin two hours before the race, because the background insulin needs two hours to begin to influence. In this way, I started the race in the blood sugar level is equivalent to 5.6, in the end will be about 6.4. Is now I know very well that I can rely on this system. "Do not eat the food greedily before the race, Eating little and frequently as much as is good. I carry with me often snack and pick up small amounts every 30 minutes of the race to keep upgrading your glucose me." But other people with needs with diabetes to find what suits them. The important thing to know it is possible to exercise in patients with diabetes, and that there are benefits beyond the sport. Once you know the patient's response to his body activity and food, this helps him to control sugar levels throughout the day. "

How can other people with diabetes find a system that suits them?

"It was my way based on conjecture and speculate. But now became no good sources of information that can help. You can resort to specialists, or to read some of the publications in which there are a lot of ideas shortcut and tips on how diabetes management during all types of physical activity."

What is a typical day of training now?

"Go early to become a pool for 30 minutes at 6.30 am. Not eat the food before swimming, as well as Check blood sugar before swimming, to see if you need to eat in the middle of the pool." "Go after work to practice jogging for 90 minutes., As well as once again must test your blood sugar in advance and adjust what should be dealt with accordingly. Always brought me food during jogging, in the event of blood sugar have dropped significantly. Ideally, you should bring several insulin always , but I now have enough experience to know that I have a sugar levels will not rise significantly, so it no longer needed to kit anymore. "

Is there a need to adhere to a special diet?

"Not quite so. I do not eat burgers or fried potatoes or curry. But pick only healthy food, but without adhering to a special diet. With diabetes, a patient must be fully aware of the potential to eat the consequences. You can eat a little chocolate Sometimes, but if multiplied so you will know very well that you have sugar levels will rise very large degree. " What sends a message to other athletes with diabetes? "I consider myself a model that people with diabetes can exercise high-level sport. However, the patient must find the right system to him and then followed him and abide by the well."