What causes fluctuations in blood sugar after exercise?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 24-year-old female recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. My blood sugar readings have been fluctuating between 250-300 mg/dL despite following the prescribed insulin dosage (18 units of Lantus at bedtime, Novolog with 1:10 insulin-to-carb ratio). I exercise 45 minutes daily and count carbs meticulously, but I notice significant spikes two hours after meals (reaching 280-320 mg/dL).

Even protein-heavy meals cause unexpected rises. I have been drinking more water lately and urinating frequently. My pre-workout readings are around 180 mg/dL. Should I adjust my insulin-to-carb ratio for protein-rich meals? Is it normal to have such high post-meal spikes despite accurate carb counting? Could my exercise timing be affecting these readings?

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and understand your concern.

Accurate carb(carbohydrates) counting can help you maintain stable blood glucose levels. Here are some tips to help you count carbs accurately:

1. Use the correct serving size- A serving, or "carb," is usually 15 grams of carbohydrates. However, the serving size on a package may not be the same as the serving size for carb counting. For example, if a package of chips says it contains two servings, but each serving is 11 grams of carbohydrates, you will need to multiply eleven by two to get the total amount of carbohydrates in the bag.

2. Measure cooked food- The weight of cooked food, like pasta, rice, or potatoes, is different from the weight of raw or pre-cooked food. Make sure you use the correct weight.

3. Use a scale- Use a flat-based, digital scale that can be zeroed and is accurate to within 5 grams.

4. Use reference lists- If you do not have nutritional information for the food you are eating, you can use a reference list or visual guide to estimate the carbohydrates.

5. Check the recipe nutrition information. You can use recipe nutrition information to calculate the carbohydrate content of your meals

I hope this helps.

Thank you.