Ladies with type 1 Diabetes?

cgh · 05-03-2009, 10:58 AM

My gf has had type 1 diabetes since she was 2 years old. She is a good looking girl with a nice body but she really does enjoy working out and wants to lose some fat in her butt, hips and thighs.

Problem is, she can't eat like "normal" athletic people. She can't eat a tonne of carbs or protein like most people who work out.

Are there any ladies here in her position who know how to eat for diabetes and athletics. Doctors and nutritionalists only know one or the other.

Advice?

12weekhardbody · 05-03-2009, 11:55 AM

I'm no M.D. by any means but i would think your gf would be able to eat quite a bit of protein since it does not affect her blood sugar. She would run into problems if she did not eat enough carbs before and after her workouts. She also may need to consume them during her workout if her blood sugar starts to drop. She would probably need to check her sugar level three times around her workouts-before/during/after. I'm sure she knows how many carbs she should eat based on her readings.

I am sure that there is somebody on here that is also type 1 and can help you help her. BTW I think it's cool that you seem to be supportive of her!

Good luck to you both

.

cgh · 05-03-2009, 03:22 PM

She obviously needs protein in her diet but she swears she can't eat a lot of protein. I dont' understand why, but I also don't have diabetes so what woudl i know? Like for lunch, she could have a weiner and that would be enough.

vanillabn · 05-04-2009, 11:28 AM

Carbs are going to have the greatest effect on her blood glucose levels, but having excess protein also gets converted to glucose by the liver, so if she was to consume LARGE amounts of protein, it could result in an increase in blood glucose levels after it's digested.

Just because she can't have tons of protein doesn't mean she can't choose good sources for the protein she does get. If she's looking to make progress fitness-wise, a hotdog for lunch is not going to get her very far. Choose lean proteins like chicken, fish, lean cuts of beef, etc.

Testing her blood sugar levels around the workout times would be good to, so that she can tailor her nutrition according to what she needs.

dvsness · 05-04-2009, 12:12 PM

Contact Colette Nelson. She is a Type 1 diabetic IFBB Pro bodybuilder, certified diabetes educator and nutritionist. She also knows how to mix different insulins to gain better control.

Tell her Vanessa sent you.

colettey@msn.com

cgh · 05-04-2009, 07:16 PM

thanks a lot!!!!

iKoniConSciencE · 05-04-2009, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cgh

My gf has had type 1 diabetes since she was 2 years old. She is a good looking girl with a nice body but she really does enjoy working out and wants to lose some fat in her butt, hips and thighs.

Problem is, she can't eat like "normal" athletic people. She can't eat a tonne of carbs or protein like most people who work out.

Are there any ladies here in her position who know how to eat for diabetes and athletics. Doctors and nutritionalists only know one or the other.

Advice?

Here, here!

I'm a type 1 diabetic bodybuilder. It took me quite awhile to "crack the code" but I think I may have figured out what works for me.

Now, keep in mind that each person is different and it's all a matter of trial and error, but...

I don't see why she can't eat a ton of protein, as long as she keeps in mind the fact that 1/3 of the protein content should count as carbs and be bolused as such.

As for carbs, yes, she can eat a fair amount of those, too, as long as they are complex/slow burning carbs.

What has been working well for me in "cutting" is eating a diet high in protein, high in complex carbs, and low in fat. I eat 6 small meals just like most bodybuilders.

I have yet to figure how to dose my insulin for super low carb diets and always end up miscalculating, so those don't work for me. I've also tried a bunch of supplements that have little warning labels saying "do not use if you have diabetes" and found they truly did mess up my blood sugars quite a bit, but everyone is different. Carnitine is amazing, though.

What is her insulin regime like? Is she on shots? a pump? what type of insulin? I might be able to help her further.

devo09 · 05-04-2009, 07:42 PM

I'm a T1D using an insulin pump. Currently dieting for a competition.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cgh

Problem is, she can't eat like "normal" athletic people. She can't eat a tonne of carbs or protein like most people who work out.
Advice?

This is not really true. She needs to make sure she has her insulin:carb ratio correct. Then she just has to give the correct amount of insulin for her carb intake. But, some T1Ds find this difficult, so if she has a problem with that she should just lower her carb intake and increase her fat intake.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cgh

She obviously needs protein in her diet but she swears she can't eat a lot of protein. .

This is kind of a myth associated with diabetes quite often. Reason for it is typically T1Ds that have poor blood sugar control MAY lead to kidney complications. And this is why dieticiens/nutritionists that are poorly educated (or ignorant) tell their diabetic clients to eat low protein.

Quote:

Originally Posted by iKoniConSciencE

I don't see why she can't eat a ton of protein, as long as she keeps in mind the fact that 1/3 of the protein content should count as carbs and be bolused as such.

That is nonsense. The amount of amino acids converted to glucose through gluconeogenesis is dependent on the amount of protein consumed, the size of the individual, and other factors.
You don't need to worry about protein converting to carbs unless your eating LARGE amounts at one time

Quote:

As for carbs, yes, she can eat a fair amount of those, too, as long as they are complex/slow burning carbs.

She can have whatever carbs she wants, providing she injects/boluses the necessary amount of insulin

Quote:

I've also tried a bunch of supplements that have little warning labels saying "do not use if you have diabetes" and found they truly did mess up my blood sugars quite a bit, but everyone is different. .

I've never experienced any supplement affecting my blood sugars

iKoniConSciencE · 05-04-2009, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by devo09

That is nonsense. The amount of amino acids converted to glucose through gluconeogenesis is dependent on the amount of protein consumed, the size of the individual, and other factors.
You don't need to worry about protein converting to carbs unless your eating LARGE amounts at one time

I don't want to get into verbal sparring with you, but I figured if she was eating "A TON" of protein, that would constitute as lots of protein at once.

Normally, no, she wouldn't have to worry about it, but if she is eating A TON, then there are subtle changes in blood sugar

I was once told by a certified diabetes educator that when eating a high protein diet I should count 1/3 of my protein as carbs. If I am eating a TON of protein, that works for me.

But like I said, everyone is different.

cgh · 05-04-2009, 10:53 PM

What she seems to be most concerned about is that she wants to have her diet and insulin levels consistant day to day. She has no interest in chasing her blood sugars and taking more or less insulin day to day. When she had a consistant daily diet she was in total control of her diabetes, but she really wants to work out harder now without losing that control.

When she goes low, she needs sugar, which is counter productive to eating clean. How do you eat clean when you need a glass of apple juice and cookies like NOW?

The harder she works out the more food she needs and generally the more insulin she needs therefore the lower or yes, higher she gets. She's a better person than I am to have to deal with it.

Also, she naturally has bigger legs butt and thighs, yet her butt is her primary injection site which does not help when working out that area. She's basically injecting steriods right into what she doesn't want to get big.

iKoniConSciencE · 05-05-2009, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cgh

What she seems to be most concerned about is that she wants to have her diet and insulin levels consistant day to day. She has no interest in chasing her blood sugars and taking more or less insulin day to day. When she had a consistant daily diet she was in total control of her diabetes, but she really wants to work out harder now without losing that control.

I hate to say it, but there is a good chance she WILL be chasing her blood sugars and her insulin regime will need some initial tweaking. It's not horribly complicated, though, especially not once you get used to it.

It's all a game of trial and error... or... well... it is for me, anyway! I found that during a hardcore weight training session, my blood sugar would often get *high* until I wore myself out and came crashing down. I have found that eating complex carbs and some protein 30 minutes or so prior to workout, then testing my blood sugar to make sure it's a little higher than it should be (150-220 range is what I shoot for) has worked well. If I'm getting too shaky while working out, I will test my blood sugar to make sure it's not low. If it is, well, I've usually caught it quickly enough to only need a little bit of sugar to bring it back. And sometimes, I will still continue working out after treating a low, if I decide I am up to it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cgh

When she goes low, she needs sugar, which is counter productive to eating clean. How do you eat clean when you need a glass of apple juice and cookies like NOW?

It IS very counterproductive. On many occasions, I've had to slam orange juice or Coke after a workout and I've felt horribly wrong doing so. On the upside, that's only 100-150 calories of sugary crap. I am sure some more "seasoned" bodybuilders as well as all-around diet Nazis will probably pounce on me for this, but 100-150 calories of sugary crap is not that bad when you consider your entire daily caloric intake. Judging from your post, I am gathering that she isn't intending to compete in a bodybuilding competition, just get fit and in shape, right?

Quote:

Originally Posted by cgh

The harder she works out the more food she needs and generally the more insulin she needs therefore the lower or yes, higher she gets. She's a better person than I am to have to deal with it.

Also, she naturally has bigger legs butt and thighs, yet her butt is her primary injection site which does not help when working out that area. She's basically injecting steriods right into what she doesn't want to get big.

One of the most common mistakes type 1 diabetics make is "feeding" their insulin. There is a good chance that she is taking more insulin than her body actually needs when she is being active, so she responds to the rest of the insulin with more food. She should cut down on her insulin a bit and see what happens.

As for her butt... I am not sure that injecting insulin into an area really helps it "grow" BUT I have found that if you use the same area too many times, you can develop scar tissue. I used to always use my stomach and now I have a bunch of scar tissue around it so it looks almost banged up (to me anyway, most other people don't notice it much). Thankfully, the scar tissue usually fades with time, even if the process is slooooooow.

cgh · 05-06-2009, 10:31 PM

where did the other posts go?

fbodychick · 05-08-2009, 11:52 AM

I've been a type one diabetic since 2000. I have worked out on and off. I don't compete or body build. I joined the boards because I want to add some muscle, lean out and continue to educate myself. I find the more intensely I work out the less insulin I need as well. I always take a banana to the gym with me just in case I start to drop. I eat a lot of protein/vegs and go very light on the carbs. I have never had lean protein affect me adversely. In my opinion if she is going to have to experiment to find what works for her with her new exercise regimen but she shouldn’t be afraid of protein.

BTW I’m so glad to see other Diabetics on the boards sharing. I know that being diabetic I face certain challenges like my sugar dropping that others don't face and I’m so glad to see others on the boards that face the same challenges. I hope that you will continue to share your experiences so that I may continue to learn.

sherri711 · 09-22-2009, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by devo09

I'm a T1D using an insulin pump. Currently dieting for a competition.

This is not really true. She needs to make sure she has her insulin:carb ratio correct. Then she just has to give the correct amount of insulin for her carb intake. But, some T1Ds find this difficult, so if she has a problem with that she should just lower her carb intake and increase her fat intake.

This is kind of a myth associated with diabetes quite often. Reason for it is typically T1Ds that have poor blood sugar control MAY lead to kidney complications. And this is why dieticiens/nutritionists that are poorly educated (or ignorant) tell their diabetic clients to eat low protein.

That is nonsense. The amount of amino acids converted to glucose through gluconeogenesis is dependent on the amount of protein consumed, the size of the individual, and other factors.
You don't need to worry about protein converting to carbs unless your eating LARGE amounts at one time

She can have whatever carbs she wants, providing she injects/boluses the necessary amount of insulin

I've never experienced any supplement affecting my blood sugars

It is so nice to finally find someone serious about bodybuilding AND has T1D!!! I've been working out for years and managing my diabetes; however it is not easy. I'm on an insulin pump and just take glucose tablets when my sugar gets low during a workout (low in calories).

My biggest question is 'How do you reduce body fat?' I am extremely careful of what I eat and only eat healthy foods.....whole grains, protein, vegetables. I keep my intake of food very low as well. I just can't seem to reduce my fat anymore! I can't tell you exactly what my body fat percentage is, but I feel I need to lose about 15-20 pounds. Anyone without diabetes eating what I eat would be thin - I guarantee it!

I have always felt that because I take insulin, and my body doesn't process food the same, what works for those without diabetes probably won't work for me. I've been trying to find SOMEONE that really understands the way a diabetics body works and what I need to do to lose weight.

If you have any suggestions, I would appreciate it!!!

Sherri

IWDOUG405 · 11-22-2009, 02:35 PM

It IS very counterproductive. On many occasions, I've had to slam orange juice or Coke after a workout and I've felt horribly wrong doing so. On the upside, that's only 100-150 calories of sugary crap. I am sure some more "seasoned" bodybuilders as well as all-around diet Nazis will probably pounce on me for this, but 100-150 calories of sugary crap is not that bad when you consider your entire daily caloric intake. Judging from your post, I am gathering that she isn't intending to compete in a bodybuilding competition, just get fit and in shape, right?

don't you guys use glucose tablets? they work quickly and are very few if any calories. i hate the taste of them but they work well. you can get them at any pharmacy. i keep these next to my bed (for when i wake at 3am with low sugar). i keep them in my car, handbag, all over. try them if you haven't, they really work. (this is my husband's bodyspace by the way, i haven't made my own yet but am very happy he found this diabetes forum for me)

JC32 · 11-22-2009, 06:55 PM

I'm a type 1 diabetic as well. I have seen a lot of good advice given, but just thought I'd throw in a few ideas to whats already been said. I have found that casein protein can be manipulated enough in my diet to work as "slow release" hand in hand with my "slow release" insulin - Lantis. I feel it helps maintian glucose levels throughout hard workouts and after. Another trick I found inadvertently is Purple InTrain bc it gives carbs/protein intra workout. (Not the reason I initially started taking it.) Also, you mentioned that she grabs a coke/juice for hypoglycemia... If she figures out the magic combo between diet/exercise/insulin, this should come faaarrr less frequently. It took me a while to get it down though. Someone suggested glucose tabs (good idea), but she could also try peanut butter/low fat milk. This seems to work pretty quickly for me and is less harmful to her goals.