New Page 1

Can Physical Activity Cause Glucose to Rise?

Sometimes, glucose can actually rise during an exercise session. But don’t be fooled! Working muscles burn glucose and increase insulin sensitivity. But there is something else that contributes to the glucose rise.

Keep in Mind that Adrenaline Raises Glucose!!!

Consider the “balancing act” constantly taking place within the body.

Counterregulatory hormones, namely STRESS hormones like adrenaline, drive glucose up.

So, exercises that induce stress hormone production can result in a net rise in glucose.

This includes most anaerobic exercises, forms of competition, sprints, “scored or graded” performances, and bursts of sudden movement.

Decrease Muscle activity

Decrease Insulin

Decrease Diabetes meds

Decrease Glycosuria

Increase Carbohydrate

Increase Protein (in absence
of CHO)

Increases Dehydration

Increases Counterregulatory
hormones

Preventing a Rise in Glucose

Several strategies can be applied for activities that produce a rise in glucose. Because dehydration can cause additional stress hormone production and reduce blood volume (which affects the glucose concentration), it is important to increase water consumption – particularly when exercising in warm/humid environments.

Teaching relaxation techniques can help to reduce the adrenaline surge that accompanies many sports activities.

Conservative doses of rapid acting insulin can be used to prevent a glucose rise with some activities. And insulin pump users should be reminded to reconnect periodically to prevent a significant drop in basal insulin levels which can lead to a glucose rise during or after sports.

Adequate hydration

Avoid extreme high intensity activity

Keep “mental intensity” to a minimum

Use preemptive insulin if predictable rise

Reasonable carbohydrate intake

Minimize extended pump disconnection

How High is Too High?

Let's get this out of the way first. There is no such number!

Another less-common issue is a rise in glucose that occurs when the body is severely insulin deficient.

High glucose levels do not necessarily mean that the body is severely insulin deficient. Hyperglycemia can be caused by under-dosing insulin, over-eating, or stress.

A lack of insulin can be caused by insulin spoilage, forgetting to take a dose, an insulin pump/infusion set malfunction, or an underlying infection that causes systemic insulin resistance. In these situations, ketone production will accelerate.

There is No Such Number

When this happens,

--Performance may suffer

--Remember to hydrate, and

--Administer Rapid-Acting Insulin

But there is an exception, Ketosis