One for Type 1's

[Farneyman]

As you may or may not know I am a Type 1 Diabetic. Even with closest of regular monitoring I can still have the odd hypo on the course where the usual 150ml of coke and a quick snack will normally bring them back to normal range within 10/20 minutes.

My problem is that when this happens my game disappears (not hard at times ) and I end up hitting some brutal shots and making some stupid choices. Most recent example was when I went low last weekend during the round, from when I noticed until back to feeling normal, I went triple, double, double. It was similar the previous week. (my symptoms are normally getting shaky which doesn't help my swing)

Are there any other T1's here who find the same problem and is there anything you do to help this?

 

[adiemel]

I am a type 2 but insulin controlled. I try to take a couple of dextrose tablets before j tee off. Then i try to keep a couple sips of lucozade sport every hole or so. I tend to get shakes as i get too low. For me its trying to stay away from getting too low.

 

[Tongo]

I am a type 2 but insulin controlled. I try to take a couple of dextrose tablets before j tee off. Then i try to keep a couple sips of lucozade sport every hole or so. I tend to get shakes as i get too low. For me its trying to stay away from getting too low.

I am also type 2 but on tablets. I deliberately eat plenty beforehand as i've been caught out before when on the course.

Farneyman: it may need something quite drastic like taking a blood sugar reading after each hole, or every other hole, just as a check and eating something if needed. It'd be a bit of a pain but may eradicate drifting toward a hypo.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I keep dextrose tablets in the bag and plenty of fruit (banana, dried fruit pieces) and drink water and coconut water. Like the OP I can feel when sugars are dropping but through trial and error have found that nibbling regularly and taking a dextrose at the first sign tends to do the job

 

[Foliage Finder]

Not a sufferer of T1DM, but I do have some medical knowledge. If I start preaching to the converted, please forgive me! It might be worth having a chat with your GP about tweaking your insulin regime to perhaps come up with a plan for golf days if it's an issue. I don't know your usual regime but you may be able to lower your dose in the morning, or the closest mealtime dose before you play to try and ensure you don't go hypo. This may be a bit more reliable that being uncertain if you're going to go a bit low then reacting once you do and save you the frustration that comes with not being able to play to your best ability for the time it takes to get some sugar in.

 

[Crow]

I don't usually take insulin during the round and take a lesser amount than normal before.

Over time I've learnt how much I need to eat for 18 holes (and it's a surprising amount) and make sure I have that with me, it helps with this if you usually play at the same time. For my usual late morning tee time I would typically eat during the round: two croissant, a banana, a sausage cob and a kit-kat or similar. No wonder I'm not losing any weight.

Even then I sometimes fall below a good level and don't always notice the symptoms in the excitement of the round and like you can play some poor shots as a result. For this reason I generally run my blood sugar on the high side when I'm playing.

Another thing I find is that after the exercise of the round I need less insulin than usual for my next meal or blood sugar will fall too low.

 

[Berger]

I'm type 1. I usually tee off around 9am, so I take a blood sugar reading before breakfast. If it's sitting at normal level I'll reduce my insulin intake down by a few units.

I try to have some fruit in my bag for around the turn which is good for keeping the sugar level up. And I always keep a packet of sweets (starburst / fruit gums) in the bag in case it drops low. But as said in the OP a hypo on course isn't nice because it can take a few holes to fully recover.

 

[backwoodsman]

Me not diabetic - but what an interesting thread, to learn what some of you have to put up with.

 

[Farneyman]

Firstly cheers for all the replies. I had typed a reply on my mobile earlier and lost it all as the signal dropped ...raging lol

I am a type 2 but insulin controlled.

Lots of people don't realise T2 can be insulin controlled. I certainly didn't when first diagnosed however I didn't know anything about it at all as no family history.

Farneyman: it may need something quite drastic like taking a blood sugar reading after each hole, or every other hole, just as a check and eating something if needed. It'd be a bit of a pain but may eradicate drifting toward a hypo.

When first diagnosed I checked on the 6th and 12th and 16th tee or thereabouts and recently its more like just around the turn. Maybe I need to revert back to more regular checking when playing.

I can feel when sugars are dropping

You are lucky if you know they are dropping. For me I only have the symptoms when they have already dropped below 4 and at that stage its a case of getting them back up ASAP.

I don't know your usual regime but you may be able to lower your dose in the morning, or the closest mealtime dose before you play to try and ensure you don't go hypo.

I don't usually take insulin during the round and take a lesser amount than normal before.
For this reason I generally run my blood sugar on the high side when I'm playing.

I already do that and as a rule it generally works but as most Diabetics will know you can do the exact same thing 2 days in a row and have totally different result.

I'm type 1. I usually tee off around 9am, so I take a blood sugar reading before breakfast. If it's sitting at normal level I'll reduce my insulin intake down by a few units.

HTF do you get that lol

Me not diabetic - but what an interesting thread, to learn what some of you have to put up with.

Yeah it was a whole new world to me but as I say to people when talking about it...there are a lot worse things to be diagnosed with and it is totally up to ME and no one else to manage the day to day treatment of it. I do try not to complain but it a right pain in the hole at times!:sbox:

Thanks again for the input folks! :thup: