I have recently been diagnosed with diabetes and decided to do the blood sugar diet. In four weeks I have lost 6 Kg (72Kg down to 66Kg) which is very pleasing – and would like to loose another 5kg. I am definitely in ketosis (checked with urine sticks). I walk to work and back (2.5 miles each way) but have noticed that my blood sugar goes up when exercising even when fasted. Is this normal? If I exercise a lot in the evening my fasting blood sugar is elevated and gives me a higher fasting glucose level. Does this mean the diet is working? The HBA1c blood test measures the levels of glucose your red blood cells have been bathed in so if I did no exercise I would keep my levels lower (? lower blood test) and if I keep exercising and the blood levels remain higher then ? a higher blood test result. Is this temporary while I am on the diet and my liver is dumping glycogen. Or does this mean my insulin is just not sensitive or at low levels. Anyone can explain or had the same?
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Hi there, exercise is great for your BG levels so that is not the cause of high readings. Stopping exercise before an HbA1c will make not difference as the reading is the amount of glucose circulating in the blood over a 12 week period and is set in stone, you can only change it before a test by going low carb / sugar. Is you fasting blood sugar taken first thing in the morning, if so you might be suffering the dawn phenomenon which is the liver dumping glycogen into the blood during the night. This happens when you have gone a long period without food i.e. 7pm to 8am, the liver detects starvation (although you are not actually starving), the best was to counteract this is to have a small snack before bedtime, cold meat, piece of cheese, some yoghurt – just enough to fool the liver. Also remember your BG can fluctuate for absolutely no reason. You dont say what your levels were or are but they will come down with this plan.
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Using my extensive 30 year old A level biology knowledge (i.e.: may not be right anymore) it makes sense you have glucose when exerting because yes, glycogen is the way the body releases energy to the body. I don’t know if being in ketosis can bypass this though – but regardless it would have to be converted to something the body can use (glucose or glycogen).
But as I say, this is a bit hazy now and understanding has moved on, so happy to be corrected on that.