Hello all. I've only been insulin dependent since 1990 and average 5-7 shots per day since then. I was into distance running when I came down with diabetes and working as a rehabilitation consultant for workman's comp., personal injury, etc. etc. I went from 160 lbs. to 185 lbs. body weight in 3 days after they put me on insulin. I've since then trained myself in weight training and cross training as well as a few outdoor recreational activities.
I take a long list of pharmaceutical grade supplements along with my daily dietary management, mostly beans, lentils, brown rice, split peas, lean meats for nitrogen based amino acids, (i.e., tuna in water, halibut, salmon, lean chicken or turkey, lean ham or other beef, etc.) I have some advanced neuropathy (i.e., nerve damage for pain, hot cold, etc.) and that is when I started taking some of the more complex supplements. Since then my sense of hot and cold and pain receptors are returning.
I use enough calories to account for my workouts plus daily physical sedentary and light duty activities. I use BCAA Branch Chain Amino Acid Supplements as these appear to be the most predominant in muscle building and Arginine Alpha Ketoglutarate Amino acids for cardio vascular support. I usually mix in Whey Protein in moderate amounts (10 to 20 grams) before and after a workout. I also take nicain the type that makes me flush, dialates my blood vessels and keeps my blood pressure and triglycerides in control. I take a chromium polynicotinate, boron, calcium citrate, mag., zinc, vit e, etc. the list is pretty long. I take about 1/4 of an aspirin to thin the blood before my cardio routines.
The Alpha Lipoic Acid and Grape Seed P.E. with Evening Primrose Oil has reversed much of the neuropathy problems I have struggled with for 3 years. I used to have access to sci-med for abstract research but not any more. I use a few advanced sports training books for my weight training, personal charts, routines, etc.
I also have had 3 passing out incidents due to low blood glucose in the last 2 yrs. I started taking the supplements since the passing out incidents and have less difficulty. Summer times are easier to workout and the lower temperatures here in Alaska are a blessing to my heat intolerances. I also have been taking a mixture that, is questionable, but seems to work, of sodium bicarb and sodium chloride in a 2 litre bottle to sip on when I am working out strenously for 1-3 hrs. pretty much non stop. I have to check blood pressures to make sure I am not running high between workouts.
I'm trying to get by on no glucose checks as I don't have the money or resources to check like I used to. Usually I can tell about where my glucose levels are by how often I have to use the bathroom (3-4 times in an hr. is 350-500 bg, 2 times an hr is 200-350, 1 time per hr. 150-200 bg) based on averages. If my muscles are out of whack or there is no muscular intensity when I try to lift and I am tired, it usually goes with a low bg. 60-80 range. I use powdered non-fat milk mixed with olive, canola, safflower oils to slow the metabolization of lactose into glucose. You can measure the amount of powdered milk mixed in 2 litre's of liquid and take a simple piece of duct tape on the side of the bottle ( I reuse my diet pop bottles from the grocery store for such purposes) to mark off the grams of carbs per 1/8, 1/6, or 1/4 of a bottle, etc. It is a rough guestimate but seems to work pretty reliably.
If you know some of the exercise requirements of your activity and kcal consumption per hr. for the specific activity, then it is a bit easier to predict how many grams of carbs, fats, proteins you need while exercising. I get some of my glucosamine from vetrinary science, LOL horse feed that I mix in proportion for a 220 lb. person compared to a 1000 lb. horse, do the math, along with my MSM in the evenings a couple of times per week for ligament and joint support.
If my health stabilizes by June, that is a good goal for me. Remember to keep your diabetes suppmentation simple, organized and efficient. Logs and charts to track your supplementation and exercise outcomes can help you make quick and effective adjustments from week to week. Patience is a virtue. Most of the vitamins and minerals have to be metabolized with food in order to work correctly so I time the meals with the supplements.
JesusGOD Bless!
Respectfully Submitted
Jeff
