Any diabetics using the FB?

[llchevy56]

Wondering if there are any diabetics out there who are using the FB and working towards weight loss?  I'm insulin dependent and trying to lose weight but more importantly trying to regain my health and physical strength while balancing everything.  A challenge a day! Love to hear your stories....

[Trazina]

Hi Laura

I was recently diagnosed. I asked for a fit bit for Christmas to. Ge motivated to get moving. I was told that in my case , if I lost weight, I could reverse the diagnosis so I'll be working hard towards that.

My city also offers free clinics that consist of 3 x 2.5 hours with a nurse and a nutritionist so I've signed up for that. Go luck to you.

Tracy

[llchevy56]

Hi Tracy!  You'll have to keep me posted on your progress!  Unfortunately, I am insulin dependent and weight loss will certainly help me control my blood sugars but I won't get off insulin completely.

My work allows us 6 hours a pay period for exercise so I've been walking 3 times a week and try to hit the 3 mile mark each time.  I've been doing Zumba 2 nights a week and then started personal training because of a fall that messed up my shoulders.  Adding the FB has really opened my eyes to gaining better control of the diet!

Good luck, it sounds like you are on the right track!!!!

Laura

[javasjen]

Hi Laura,

I've been a type 2 diabetic for 11 years and so far have been able to control it without insulin.  I've always been overweight and just in this past year I've gained 40 pounds.  I just got my Fitbit One for Christmas and I'm looking forward to using it to get myself more motivated.  May it work for you, as well!

[chopstixchickie]

Hi all,

I was diagnosed a couple years ago and was in denial for a long time. I can relate to all your stories. I've been told if I lost weight I could improve my health and minimize the impact of Diabetes on my life. But, of course losing the weight is the hard part. Recently I started insulin to help lower my BG. Right now, it's a really frustrating process because I'm not seeing my sugars go down.

Enter Fit Bit. I've only been using it a week but it's been so much fun and a great way to track what I'm eating, how I'm feeling about it, my glucose levels, and exercise. I surprised myself that I was moving more than I thought in my day. Motivating!

Hope we can all connect. It would be great to have like minded support.

[llchevy56]

Hi Javasjen! 

I never struggled with my weight until after I had children.  Then I yoyoed up and down for all the rest of these years.  Finally when I was in my early 40's I became type 1 and was only 132 pounds!  So, I guess that can show that you don't have to be overweight to get diabetes.  Since then I've done nothing but gain and gain till I finally was ready to just give up.  Found the fitbit on the advice of a co-worker and with the help of my Zumba instructor I'm finally seeing the scale move down and my BGs are leveling out better.

Keep up the good wok you are doing - I know it can help you too! 

Laura

[prdmmy3]

Hi everyone,

I'm new here!!  Just got my fitbit for a gift from my husband in January!  I'm a type 1 diabetic and have been for almost 19yrs.  My husband and I contracted a virus on our honeymoon that attacked our pancreas and we've both been insulin dependent since.  🙂  I'm struggling with excersise and trying to lose weight.  I've used having diabetes as an excuse not to exercise.  It's so difficult, even though I am on an insulin pump (and have been for 18yrs).  I purposely set my basal so I wake with a high of about 150, set a temp basal and then after I work out for 2+ hours my basal skyrockets for the next 3-4 hours.  My endo and I are testing new basal rates for my workout - but it's frustrating.  Trying to get healthy and my A1C is 7.5 WITH watching what I eat and exercising.  I would love the support of this group!  Anyone else having these issues??  Looking forward to being a part of this group!

[Nornie]

Hi prdmmy3,

My name is Laura. Your story is very similar to mine. I've been type 1 diabetic for 20.5 years and on insulin pump for about 12 years. In the last year or so my A1C has gone above 7 when I used to average around 6.3 most of the time. My last two A1C's were both 7.4. I would love to get this back to the low 6's or less. I seriously started to try to lose weight about 7 months ago and have managed to lose about 20 pounds in that time with diet and exercise.  I would like to lose another 20 to 25 pounds to get down to my ideal weight.

It's been a hard road with trying to adjust basil rates and fighting exercise lows that force me to eat more calories.  My doctor has me on 1200 to 1500 calories a day. He suggested that I lower my basil rate at least an hour before exercise and up to 4 or 5 hours after to stop after exercise lows. I've had some success with this, but it is all trial and error. I've lowered my basil rates to anywhere between 30 to 70% of my normal rate. I always check my BG before and if it is less than 150 I will lower to 30% but if it is higher than I will not lower it as much. You have to find what works for you and be willing to test your BG often.

Have you ever tried a continuous glucose monitor? I've used those some and it is really helpful in seeing how you need to adjust basil rates for exercise. They are expensive, though. What type of insulin pump are you using? I use a Medtronic and hope to get their newest one when my warranty on my current one expires in May. The new Medtronic pump has an updated CGM and other features I'd like to try.

I would love to continue to correspond with you about weight loss and type 1 as it seems we are in very similar circumstances.

[cici71]

Hello:) I have been type I for 30 years. I struggle with the lows I get when I exercise. I feel sooo frustrated when I am doing something good for myself and I'm forced to eat. I pumped for 10 years and got sick of having something constantaly attached- so I returned to shots last year. My AIC is 7.1. It has been high 6's/right around 7 for the last two decades. I have gone minimal carb several times to help control diabetes. This works if I am consistent. I have not had luck sticking to it yet. The thing I like about walking is it does not cause severe lows but the downside is it doesn't help me shed as much weight as I would like.

[Nicomachea]

Hey! I've been Type-I for 26 years, and I do have maybe 15 pounds I'd very much like to lose. It's been a tough time with weight. Even a 1200-calorie-a-day diet netted me a 10-pound drop over the course of five months, and then I couldn't keep my calories that low. I've dropped some more recently after going on Symlin, and that was (1) without a caloric intake change, and (2) with a little less exercise. I think it has something to do with the extended release of food and the resulting requirement of a vastly extended bolus. I'm wondering if a large one-time infusion of insulin promotes fat storage.

In any case, being both fit and a Type-I is remarkably difficult. My A1cs vary between 6.2 and 6.5, so I'm pretty happy with that overall. Working out can be tough. I do 30-40 minutes of heavy weights and 20 minutes of medium-high intensity cardio per workout day. I work out about five days a week. I have to watch it, though, because I have a tendancy to crash overnight proportional to the intensity of my cardio and spike immediately after a workout proportional to the intensity of my weight training. Temporary basal rate reductions seem to not be an option, because the pump alarms hourly, and thus wakes me up hourly, when on a temporary rate. Walking is particularly difficult for me, believe ot or not -- long, non-cardio walks cause my sugars to crash without fail. It's so odd.

As an aside, the Fitbit is helping me see patterns when it comes to lows and sleep, too. It's very interesting.

I'm sorry we're all in this boat, but at the same time I'm glad we're not struggling with it alone!

[llchevy56]

Hi Nicomachea - I'm not in as fit as shape as you sound (congratulations!), but I can totally understand the crashing, etc. My pump doesn't sound alarms but the CGM does - can you turn them off or maybe that is not an option.  

I do Zumba twice a week, personal trainer twice a week and sometimes weight training on Saturdays.  I lower my basal rate for 3 hours prior to Zumba (1 hour intense) and then reduce my insulin intake down to 40 for that timeframe.  I also reduce the amount of insulin I give myself for food by 50 to 75% prior to exercise.  For me, it is working pretty good.  I'm able to remain fairly level for the night afterwards.  I've added oatmeal to my diet prior to the exercise and that seems to keep the sugars more manageable for me.  I've also been studying about Lipten's and have been rearranging my food intake which has stablized my blood sugars more.

So far since I've started with the Fitbit (Christmas) I've dropped just about 10 pounds and 8 inches!  It really helps me to be accountable and to understand what I'm eating!  The sleep aspect is amazing and as I'm not a very good sleeper it is showing me where my issues are!

Nice to have people to talk to who struggle from day to day the same as me!  Best of luck!!!

[Bhadra]

For my physiology, activity is really the only thing that works to reduce my bg numbers. If i am active every day i can reduce the meds i take for my diabetes and if it is sustained i also have to watch for low numbers at night.

[londog]

Laura,

I was diagnosed a Diabetic a few years ago and have been battling it ever since.  It seems there are quite a few of us in here that are Diabetics...so feel free to ask many questions.

One tip I have for diabetics out there is to go on a 10-15 minute walk after every meal...I know it is hard...but it helps keep blood sugar levels from climbing.  I am not sure why...but that is what I have learned that helps me on a day to day basis.

I would love it if you all added me as a friend...and if any of you have any questions please ask me anything...I am happy to share my experiences with all of you.

Happy FitBiting!!!

Lonnie

[cici71]

Lonnie

Thanks fot the tip! I will give the after dinner walk a try! Usually after eating I am pretty inactive:)

Cici

[Janrah]

Hi there, Just becomming familiar with FitBit and have avoided exercise and activity for years because hypo repercussions. I have had Type1 diabetes for 27 + years and have pumped over the past 13years. I'm sorting out the basal rates now, reducing it for me for 30% 1/2hr prior to 1hr post activity. This tends to avoid post activity hypo's. While the HbA1c has remained unchanged (6.9%) I have found that well being is improving immensily. I am consuming less Quick acting carbs to resolves hypos but the weight hasn't shifted after the 2kg initial weight loss in January. 

I salute those here who are shifting the weight AND performing incredible amounts of activity in their day. Keep up the great work and I would love to add some friends with T1 to my non existent friends list to enhance weightloss with likeminded people.

I'm aiming to lose 8-10kg to achieve a BMI of 22. Haven't been there since having my 2nd baby 8years ago and a sedentary job with added stress to help me attain 10 unwanted kilos.

I'm upping the Anti and achieving 10-11000 steps most days now, aiming for 15000/day, but the days are shortening and I'll be back to walking in the dark after travelling 1.5-2hrs each way to work for an 8.5hr shift.  

I'm hoping to modify the diet further, adjust the pump and tweak it some more and save for more CGM sensors on the Medtronic pump. At AU$80 per sensor the  budget is a bit tight at present, but there is no better method in adjusting the pump than fortnightly CGMS. An investment worth paying for.  T1's will never be off their insulin, but at least activity reduces the need for the fat storing hormone [insulin] causing us more weight issues.

I Love a challenge, and adore hearing others challenging stories, and how the obstacles are being overcome. Keep up the good work!!

[prdmmy3]

Anyone having problems with going HIGH after a workout??  I've always dropped - and had to lower my basal pre and post exercise.  Now, even if my sugar is normal (110 as an example) I can do cardio for 60+ minutes and weight train for an additional 45 minutes and my sugars stay fine.  Then, when I stop they climb for the next couple of hours - so I'm having to give myself insulin.  It's driving me crazy.  I'm eating about 1150 calories and burning at least 750-800 with daily workouts (just counting the cardio) and my A1C is still 7.6.  So discouraging!!!

[Nicomachea]

It depends on the workout, but yes, I've had that happen. Cardio never raises my sugars, but weight training consistently does. To keep things steady, I lift for 30-40 minutes and then do 20 minutes of cardio, and I seem to even out for the most part. I do sometimes drop -- gotta love working out only to have to run to the kitchen immediately after to start sucking down juice or soda or whatever to correct a low. But if I don't do cardio and only lift, my sugars will almost always be higher post-workout than they were pre.

Have you tried ratcheting down the workouts? You're doing some seriously intense sessions -- far more so than they need to be for fitness, and particularly given that you likely don't have enough calories day to day to repair the damage to your body that workouts unavoidably cause. I wonder if your body is reacting negatively as a result. I don't actually know -- just a thought, but it might be worth a try.

[prdmmy3]

I'm trying to lose 50+ pounds!!!  I get a bit confused with knowing what caloric intake I should have and what to do to exercise.  Fitbit tells me I'm over when I do the cardio burn of 750 calories and eat only 1200 calories!!

[Nicomachea]

How weird! Go in and check your settings. You're not over with your calories, believe me! If all you did was sit around all day -- no walking, no anything -- you'd burn 1,200 calories. Add your workout and you're near 2,000. Add walking around and just normal daily activities, and you're certainly at 2,500, and that's a bit of a lowball rough estimate. With those workouts, you're definitely undereating! I'm amazed you have the energy and wherewithall to go about your normal activities!

In any case, yeah, I'd give a little more nutrition and a little less gym time a shot. Good for you for the dedication, by the way! You'd definitely lose weight on that regimen. The unfortunate thing is, you'd risk tearing up your body in the process. Progress will be slower if you work out a bit less/eat a bit more, but you'll be healthier for it.

[esoap]

Hi prdmmy3, i am a type 1 for 8 years and got such scary lows, live remotely with two small kids so i quit the rapid acting and survived on background insulin, diet and excercise to control.

Unfortunately it didnt work out so I have had to go back on the rapid acting but have continued to excercise in a more moderate but timed fashion. I target that last hour of the rapid acting after a meal to attack the sugars.

Excercising when above 13 can actually make you go higher and as the muscles are starving they look for energy from your fat reserves or the glyergen in your liver. Liver releases that sugar - you go up. Unfortuantely not so good as a byproduct you produce Ketones. So try timing that excercise for rapid acting cover or if not maybe more moderate excercise and a 1/2 unit of your rapid.

Check out the German, OZ and English Dafne courses. Having had diabetic doctors advice in NZ, USA, and Europe I suggest you look outside the USA for answers.