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What Should I Eat Before I Run?

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Posted on Tue, 12 Jul 2016
Question: What foods i can eat before i go out for running ???

Daily i will be running for 5 km in the morning, so what kind of foods i should have to have stamina to run.

doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Abhay A Mali (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Not only food but insulin doses & many other things need to be planned.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks
Thanks for your question.
Noted your concern.

First decide at what time are you planning to run.
Early morning before breakfast or after breakfast.


Such type of vigorous exercise may have dual effect on blood sugar level.
Rapid consumption of blood sugar by exercising muscles leading to hypoglycemia or release of stress hormones (anti-insulin effect) causes high blood sugar level.

So there is a need for insulin dose adjustment along with additional carbohydrate intake that will depends upon -
- Your current blood sugar control.
- Blood sugar level prior to exercise.
- blood sugar level during and after exercise.

Usually with blood sugar level below 90 prior to exercise one should take 15 gram of carbohydrates like half banana or any other equivalent. .
To start with half the dose of actrapid for a meal before exercise (breakfast in your case) with routine breakfast like upma, poha, milk with marrie biscuits or brown bread, sandwich.

Recheck blood sugar level prior to start of exercise, during exercise (once or twice) and after exercise.
Depending upon blood sugar levels one need to adjust carbohydrate intake & insulin doses.

You should aware of symptoms of hypoglycemia (early detection).
When hypoglycemia symptoms present check blood sugar level immediately and accordingly there may be need for additional intake carbohydrate with rechecking blood sugar levels at every 20 min interval till blood sugar level rise to more than 90.

Always keep carbohydrate drink for instant calories.

Hope this helps you.

Regards,
Dr Abhay Mali.
Diabetologist.



Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Abhay A Mali (16 minutes later)
Thank you so much for the reply...currently i am going to running early morning i.e. before breakfast.....

as per my current medication i would be taking 8 units of actrapid insulin before breakfast....

1. so as i understand by your reply.....was...have a half slice banana and take 4 units of insulin...go for run....take another 4 units and have the breakfast...????

2. please suggest me aome healthy snack which will not raise blood sugar much....??

waiting for ur reply for the above 2 questions.....

Regards,
XXXXX
0000
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Abhay A Mali (23 hours later)
Brief Answer:
It requires continuous monitoring in initial few days after starting runnin

Detailed Answer:
Sorry for delayed response.

As already mentioned type of morning snack and insulin dose will depend upon blood sugar level.

As you are planning to exercise early morning I may suggest-

Check your fasting blood sugar.

If Blood sugar level
Below 100: take approximately 15 gram of carbohydrate like half banana, milk with slice of bread with milk without taking insulin.

100 to 180: have 2 to 3 XXXXXXX Biscuits without taking insulin.

180 to 250: have 2 to 3 XXXXXXX Biscuits with milk taking 2 units of Actrapid prior.

More than 250: Better to avoid exercise. Check urine ketone further action will depends upon it.
Also daily monitoring of blood sugar level during and after exercise and before and after breakfast will help in deciding actual pattern of snack and insulin doses.

It is a continuous process you need frequent follow up with your treating diabetologist for initial few days till the time actual pattern can be decided for you.

In breakfast you can have Poha, XXXXXXX Idali chataney, dosa with chataney, oats, cow milk without cream with brown bread (1 to 2 slices) or 3 to 4 XXXXXXX biscuits, Brown bread sandwich, diet khakara.

Also you can have fruits like Apple (1 small apple at a time) or 1 small bowl of pieces of papaya, pineapple or 1 orange or 1 sweet lime (But not juice).

You can have curd, butter milk without added sugar.

You should consult near by dietitian who can plan diet for you depending upon your need and likes and dislikes.

Also knowledge of Carb-counting, insulin to carbohydrate ratio can help you.

Hope this helps you.





Note: For further follow-up, discuss your blood glucose reports with our diabetologist. Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Dr. Abhay A Mali

Diabetologist

Practicing since :2006

Answered : 807 Questions

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What Should I Eat Before I Run?

Brief Answer: Not only food but insulin doses & many other things need to be planned. Detailed Answer: Hi, Thanks Thanks for your question. Noted your concern. First decide at what time are you planning to run. Early morning before breakfast or after breakfast. Such type of vigorous exercise may have dual effect on blood sugar level. Rapid consumption of blood sugar by exercising muscles leading to hypoglycemia or release of stress hormones (anti-insulin effect) causes high blood sugar level. So there is a need for insulin dose adjustment along with additional carbohydrate intake that will depends upon - - Your current blood sugar control. - Blood sugar level prior to exercise. - blood sugar level during and after exercise. Usually with blood sugar level below 90 prior to exercise one should take 15 gram of carbohydrates like half banana or any other equivalent. . To start with half the dose of actrapid for a meal before exercise (breakfast in your case) with routine breakfast like upma, poha, milk with marrie biscuits or brown bread, sandwich. Recheck blood sugar level prior to start of exercise, during exercise (once or twice) and after exercise. Depending upon blood sugar levels one need to adjust carbohydrate intake & insulin doses. You should aware of symptoms of hypoglycemia (early detection). When hypoglycemia symptoms present check blood sugar level immediately and accordingly there may be need for additional intake carbohydrate with rechecking blood sugar levels at every 20 min interval till blood sugar level rise to more than 90. Always keep carbohydrate drink for instant calories. Hope this helps you. Regards, Dr Abhay Mali. Diabetologist.