I’ve been experimenting with my insulin during intense crossfit workouts. I think I’m on to something.
The worst part about crossfit, for me as a diabetic, is intense workouts that incorporate constant intense activity for a period of time lasting longer than about 5 minutes.
At the crossfit regionals a couple of months ago, our WOD was 8 deadlifts with 300 pounds(not too hard for me) followed by running a 400 meter course, 3 rounds for time. Although I hate running, it shouldn’t have been as painfully difficult as it turned out. I was sooooooooooo drained half way through the competion. The end of it took FOREVER. After that pathetic performance I checked my blood sugar, well over 300!! And I had started at around 140.
When my blood sugar gets close to and above the 200 mark, I simply cannot move. Ya, I might be tired, but it’s different. When the blood sugar is high, it’s indicating that my body is smart enough to know I’m in need of energy, so it releases some nrg into my system, but it forgot how to release insulin to help push that nrg to my vital organs. So then I sit, at that point, without insulin, my gas tank is literally on empty and until I can shoot up with some insulin, empty it will stay.
Meet Fran
I experimented this past Friday when we had to take on Fran for the WOD. Right before the workout, my blood sugar was 140. Normally, I take 1 unit of insulin to bring my blood sugar down 45 points. But knowing that Fran will take [me] upwards of 10 minutes, I over shoot my insulin by 2 units for a total of 3 units. I ended up shaving almost 4 minutes off of my Fran time. This was awesome. Post workout, my blood sugar was still 186. This means that I bet I could’ve gone another unit or two and maybe performed even better.
Meet Grace
Of course I keep a bag of jelly beans close by just in case my experiment goes terribly wrong and I get a low(I HATE blood sugar lows). This week we have Grace on wednesday, clean and jerk 135 for 30 reps. Not sure how long this one is going to take, but I’ll experiment again with the insulin and post my results.
