MONEY!

I went on a 3 1/2 hour (54 mile) ride the other day and tried a new nutrition strategy. One of the things I learned at Diabetes Training Camp is how important it is to have insulin on board when exercising. One of which is that you need it in order to get enough nutrition to sustain the longer distances. I have not been using even close to enough insulin while I exercise, particularly greater than an hour. I have been turning my basal* rate down to about 10-20% of my normal day to day amount while exercising. Dr. Corcoran suggested that I should never go below 50%. I asked one of my Triabetes teamates, Casey how he manages it. He is a veteran Ironman and is planning on qualifying for Kona this year. He recommended 2 bottles of Perpetuem (an endurance nutrition drink made by Hammer Nutrition), starting with 4 scoops in each and working my way up to 6 scoops in each by Ironman. In addition, take 1 gel per hour. I left my basal* rate at 100% and took a combo bolus** on my Animus pump to cover the carbohydrates in the Perpetuem, but not the gels. Combo meaning I took 15% of the insulin up front with the remaining stretched out over 4 hours. Long story short...IT WAS MONEY. I don't know if it was beginners luck or what but check out the Blood sugars below!  I'm going to try it out in my first race this weekend.

53.72 Miles

3 hours 23 minutes

Average Heart Rate 131

Starting BG: 130 (11:50am)

12:27 107

1:26 109

2:24 87

Rolled in the driveway at 107 (3:28pm)

*In the treatment of diabetes the term basal rate simply means the low rate of insulin supply needed to cover the basal metabolic functions of daily living (i.e. breathing, heart rate, and other metabolic processes of the body). That is, what insulin is needed to maintain good blood sugar control without taking into account eating any food (food is covered with a "bolus" of insulin).

**Bolus = a single dose of insulin. Bolus insulin can be given by injection (shots) or through an insulin pump.

Bolus insulin is given for two reasons:
1. Whenever food is eaten that may raise blood sugar (especially in the case of carbohydrates); and/or
2. Whenever blood sugars are too high and need to be corrected (made lower).