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Type 1 diabetes bodybuilding weight lifting insulin nutrition all of it

4K views 17 replies 4 participants last post by  Hearts Jounrey 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I have been doing well at weight lifting actually more muscle then I had in the years before the diagnosis. I guess it is the insulin. I got kicked off a body building forum for posting the subject even though the title was the same as this one diabetes and bodybuilding.

I get by with Lantus, diet and exercise. I have all this Humalog I don't use but now a little over 4 months into my diagnosis I am over the needle phobia and was thinking maybe I should use it to up my carbs. In reality I should be using it now and eating carbs at the official recommended rate, that's why it was prescribed. I used it alot in the beginning but truth is I am afraid of the stuff do to my lack of experience after learning not to use it.

Right now I eat alot of Salmon, I buy a pound its gone in 2 meals. It seems to help the bears up in Alaska pack on the pounds and its tasty. Its probably better then those muscle shakes made of whey left over from milk pressing to make cheese or where ever that comes from.

All diabetes and body building tips welcome.
 
#3 · (Edited)
I see your just on lantus and not any faster acting insulin. If you have not taken faster acting insulin, I would be very cautious with it as the impact and response of the insulin is fast as things happen quickly
 
#4 ·
I used it alot in the beginning but truth is I am afraid of the stuff do to my lack of experience after learning not to use it..
There are some excellent books that can help you a lot in using insulin, both in basal, and the bolus for meals.

Think Like a Pancreas by Gary Schneider

Using Insulin by John Walsh

No one should have to start using insulin without some education and preferably coaching.
 
#5 ·
I used Humalog at the rehab they had me on the sliding scale 120-200 before meal = 2 units... I had no idea what I was doing like mistakenly thinking a few handfuls of cheerios won't do anything they are carbs but not sweet. It is scary cause I would take the Humalog and did not think eating immediately was that important. I always started high and not experienced a hypo yet.

Then I learned kind of how to eat and the effect of exercise a 1 to 2 point drop per minute at the upper end of moderate intensity. That was the end of Humalog.

I have that book Think Like a Pancreas, I guess its time to read it as I don't fall down the rabbit hole of worry like when I read that stuff like in the beginning.

Thought going to the gym and getting results was over when I was first diagnosed then reading all these web pages claiming its possible to be diabetic and do the gym but more difficult and you get less results. That was bullcrap cause the muscle sticks better now then before. I was stubborn stupid waiting so long with that thirst and peeing and letting myself get that sick. Then my legs edema swell up crazy day after hospital.

If anyone new is reading this I am a naturally thin type 1 late 40s on insulin and went back to the gym and my muscles grew better then ever and faster. My strength about the same as pre diagnosis but I look stronger now. Took a wile to get started, weeks to recover from the initial sickness and ketoacidosis but all is good now so don't bug out. Wish I read from someone else what I am writing now 3 months ago when I was incredibly scared and totally bummed out.
 
#6 ·
If you don't have to take humulog I wouldn't - I've been on it for about 10 years I think (feels like 10 years). A very good insulin to use to get your BGS down relatively quickly but it can also lower your BGS dangerously low if you give too much. If you start taking it, test often until you get used to how it interacts with your body.
As for body building - I've never done it but I've never had problems building muscle mass as I needed it during my football and hockey years back in the day. I've heard non diabetes athletes take insulin to build muscle - I often wondered if that was why it was easy for me to build muscle mass for my sporting activities. Don't know .....
 
#7 ·
why would a non diabetic take the risk of using injecting insulin? to build muscle? i never heard of it and it sounds outrageously foolish. almost as bad as taking PED/steroids to build muscle like anabolic steroids, androstenedione, human and growth hormone.
 
#11 ·
"Insulin is the most anabolic thing you can use. I'm a diabetic myself, I was recently diagnosed about 6 weeks ago, however this did not come from using anything. At first I thought it had to have been from something I did or my moderate-high carb intake, but the endocrinologist told me that this was not self induced, it was just the hand I was dealt.

I'm actually what they call a type 1 1/2, that means that I do not have enough beta cells in my body to produce enough insulin, but I am still producing some on my own. So I've learned an awful damn lot about insulin use lately." Read more https://johndoebodybuilding.com/insulin/


Page after web page of conflicting information. I read alot of them and I think wile external insulin may enhance muscle building in non diabetics a fully working pancreas is better then anything a diabetic could do with an insulin regime.

But something tells me that diabetic pro and Olympic athletes are doing something different then just the sliding scale and basic instructions they send the rest of us home from the hospital with.
 
#10 ·
Initial BS 137 then gym 5 sets leg press and one mile on bike I set lat pull down go home test 82. The two tests were exactly 1 hour apart.

Would twice the gym pull me down 55 more and leave me at BS of 27 ? I don't think it works that way. Hope not.
 
#12 ·
You have LADA Latent Autoimmune Diabetes of Adults or 1.5 different from type 1. I would advise changing your signature from type 1 to LADA/1.5.

Type 1.5 LADA is a progressive disease At first, LADA can be managed by controlling your blood sugar with diet, weight reduction if appropriate, exercise and, possibly, oral medications or and lantus. But as your body gradually loses its ability to produce insulin, insulin shots, humalog or similar fast acting, will eventually be needed. read below for short summary on type 1.5

https://beyondtype1.org/what-is-lada-diabetes/
 
#13 · (Edited)
" I didn't want to go this route, because once you elevate your insulin intake, it's almost like it's hard to go back to not using as much" Read more https://johndoebodybuilding.com/bodybuilding-diabetes/


That's the question I was searching the answer for if I use more will it lead me to need more. This guy says yes and I am going to go with caution and skip taking more until I find out if that's entirely true or not.
 
#15 ·
your body, more specifically your immune system and cd4 and cd8 T cells are targeting your beta cells AKA as autoimmunity.

Exposure to prolonged hyperglycemia (glucose toxicity) can lead to damage of beta cells as well and impact the ability of beta cells to secrete insulin. When one reaches past the age of early to mid teens, regeneration of beta cells ceases. Beta cells are fragile, prone to various modes of antagonists, and rely on a cascade of hormonal, protein and cellular signaling.
 
#16 ·
thought you said in post above -
"I'm actually what they call a type 1 1/2, that means that I do not have enough beta cells in my body to produce enough insulin, but I am still producing some on my own"

But hospital said type 1? i would find out exactly what type you have. Did hospital run thru blood tests called islet cell antibodies

see below
https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopki.../547013/all/Autoantibodies_in_Type_1_Diabetes

https://www.ontrackdiabetes.com/type-2-diabetes/latent-autoimmune-diabetes-adults

Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults | Diabetes
 
#17 ·
But hospital said type 1? i would find out exactly what type you have. Did hospital run thru blood tests called islet cell antibodies

No the hospital did not run that test.


I am in a tough spot cause the sociopaths of police state America took my driver license ex post facto over some crap NINE years ago I PAID FOR. Found that out when I moved states and went to switch my paperwork. Never thought I hate the capacity to hate on the level I hate those "just doing my job" cockroaches at the DMV and their sociopath friends posing as the good guys out there stalking motorists for revenue.

This whole thing has changed me. Never knew I could feel hate like that. They unconstitutionally trashed my life out of no where. Soulless cockroaches.

There is a gym close by but doctors and the supermarket are an expensive trip. The system doesn't care if I drop dead tomorrow.

The above may seem off topic but its not, its the reason I use Google for a doctor. People reply "my diabetes team" ya sure, I got this website, Google Search and a friend with the condition.

I just tested at 62, ate half a glucose tab, crackers and baked chicken. That leg press machine keeps pulling down the BS for a wile after using it legs being bigger muscles.

Learning curve here, I need to eat at an 82 before it drops further on days I do legs.
 
#18 ·
Get a C-peptide blood test done both fasting and after a meal to see how much insulin your pancreas is producing.

As for doing to exercise where your blood sugar drops from 137 to 82 and worrying if you keep on exercising that you drop to 40, follow some guidelines.

Glycogen is found in the liver and muscles. The muscles convert glycogen into usable energy as the body utilizes the glycogen stores all day. Try to replenish your glycogen stores within 15 minutes of finishing your workout. If carbs are consumed immediately after exercise, the body is able to retain up to 50 percent more glycogen. Depending on the length of exercise and intensity, it can take between 1 to 4 days to completely replenish ones glycogen.

insulin needs glucose to facilitate the building and formation of glycogen stores in liver and muscle as energy meaning you better have sufficient levels of glucose in your blood by eating carbs and protein.

Glucose is required for the brain which uses about 60% of our glucose. If brain doesnt get enough glucose, you will have issues. Glucose in brain used for the transmission of nerve impulses

Muscle uses fuels such as glucose, fatty acids, and ketone bodies.

Heart muscle functions almost exclusively aerobically, The heart has virtually no glycogen reserves. Fatty acids are the heart's main source of fuel

Kidneys require large amounts of energy for its role for riding body of waste and maintaining body fluids.

Liver - Glucose required for providing fuel to the brain, muscle, & other organs
The liver removes about 66% of the glucose from the blood.
 
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