Sarah Howard
Sarah Howard (nee Tackett) has dedicated her career to supporting the T1D community ever since she was diagnosed with T1D while in college in May 2013. Since then, she has worked for various diabetes organizations, focusing on research, advocacy, and community-building efforts for people with T1D and their loved ones. Sarah is currently the Senior Marketing Manager at T1D Exchange.
Sarah and her husband live in NYC with their cat Gracie. In her spare time, she enjoys doing comedy, taking dance classes, visiting art museums, and exploring different neighborhoods in NYC.
I put other for now. I had a total knee replacement surgery, so PT makes my BG rise.
Sometimes my bg increases during weight training or not. I usually have a drop in bg after weight training. In summary, it varies.
I used to do very light weight exercises (about 20 lbs per hand), but I have not been to the gym since February, 2020 (Covid). The amount of weight training that I did had minimal effect upon my BG’s, although I’m sure there was a decrease in BG’s. Most of my workouts were, and are, cardiovascular (eliptical, rowing machine, running, biking).
I use ight weights during weight training, and I typically follow the weight training with an extended period of cardio on a treadmill. My BG typically drops 80 points or so during an hour on the treadmill so I aim for high BG levels toward the end of the weight training session before starting the cardio.
I always work out first thing in the morning, around the time the dawn phenomenon is kicking in. Because of this natural increase in BG at this time, my BG stays very steady during the weight-lifting workout. I often have to give a little bolus just after lifting because my BG will increase right after the workout. Later, and throughout the day, my BG tends to run a little lower. Lifting (relatively) heavy is one of my favorite ways to exercise – it’s so effective in weight loss/maintenance and BG management!
I use ten lb hand weights to build strong arms, shoulders, neck, and back muscles. My spine is deteriorating and the hefty muscles I’ve build over the last two years have helped. I’m also the Sherpa when we travel. My 85 year old husband is using a cane for a badly arthritic knee. The weights also raise my metabolism, which lowers my bg.
I chose ‘without a predictable pattern’ because in my experience when I do it the result varies according to a whole mix of conditions that sometimes permit a reasonable prediction but sometimes surprise me.
I teach 6 strength training classes a week. I have to start my classes with a fairly high blood sugar (170-180) because it can drop 40-60+ points during class.
My BG usually goes up when I’m weight training, however I’ve found that afterwards I”m much more insulin sensitive and need to adjust my bolus’ appropriately to ensure I don’t i don’t get too low.
I put my blood glucose decreases. However, I have never only done weight lifting without also doing aerobic activity so I am not really sure how much my blood sugar changes, or if it increases or decreases during weight lifting.
I don’t know if what I’d do really classified as weight training. I lift dumbbells and use them for extra resistance during resistance exercises. I don’t currently use machines.
inconsistent
I do weight training without much BG preparation before the exercise or much effect afterward, but that’s because I use a particularly efficient program called 5-3-1. It gets the best functional strength effect out of a minimal investment in time of any system I’ve seen. The top weight I lift is about 120 pounds, so it isn’t that I’m lifting extremely light weights. I’m a 78yo, 150lb male.
Any exercise, with or without weights, always lower my BG !!!
During and immediately after a heavy weightlifting session my bg increases. During the following 24 hours, bg keeps going down.
I usually see a bit of a BG rise only if alI I do is lift. Sometimes I lift after a 30 min treadmill fast walk. (Disc problems prohibit running ). BGs will fall during the walk, so I must keep a sharp I out and glue tabs handy. In this case my sugars either stay steady or fall some more. I try to have enough carbs on board to avoid all of this. The subsequent weight loss and conditioning has definitely improved my insulin sensitivity. Something new to get used to.
I do not use weights for exercise, but I should. Weight training promotes strong bones and that is important now that I’m over 60 and have 55 years of T1D.
When I workout with the trainer it’s a combination of weights and aerobics (more HIIT) so I tend to drop. But, I don’t ever do just “weight training” so I didn’t select an option.