# Daisy Mae's swimming BG thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Sports & Exercise\ **Tags:** exercise, blood-sugar, swimming\ **Created:** [May 11, 2017, 11:29pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894 "2017-05-11T23:29:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 104
**Author:** ![Trying](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/trying/32/4078_2.png) [@Trying](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Trying)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2019, 10:06pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894/2073 "2019-08-05T22:06:06Z")
> [@daisymae](#): > > Just received my FreeStyle Libre CGM in the mail. on line it claims that it IS waterproof and that you CAN swim with it on. Great swim!!! Can’t be anymore Non-D than that!! Good luck w/ the Libre. I hope you’ll be happy with it!! ---
**Author:** ![Eric](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/eric/32/9209_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Eric)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2019, 2:59am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894/2074 "2019-08-06T02:59:55Z")
> [@daisymae](#): > > 1pm bg 88 > 1:20 bg 101 took 1 tab and jumped in > 1:50 bg 97 took 1/2 a tab > 2:20 bg 98 \*\*\* > 2:50 bg 100 > [@daisymae](#): > > i dont know if i should just NOT take anything at all during that first stretch or take only 1/2 of what i am taking. I am not sure why you’d want to do anything different here. ---
**Author:** ![daisymae](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/daisymae/32/1199_2.png) [@daisymae](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/daisymae)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2019, 2:53pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894/2075 "2019-08-06T14:53:27Z")
> [@Eric](#): > > I am not sure why you’d want to do anything different here. thanks. will do. i’ll see what happens when i am testing at the pool today. ---
**Author:** ![daisymae](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/daisymae/32/1199_2.png) [@daisymae](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/daisymae)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2019, 8:21pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894/2076 "2019-08-06T20:21:04Z")
**COULDNT GET INTO MY GROOVE EXPERIMENT #1:** dont know exactly what happened with me today. i had a great night. no real bad lows (no highs), slept well, got up at regular hour and had a nice bfast. was totally psyched to be in the pool today. then about the time i was getting ready to leave my house, i started thinking about only swimming for one hour today. i was very tired from swimming the past 5 days and i pulled a muscle in my back yesterday. OH!! Excuses, excuses. well i got to the pool and it was packed. every lane was full. everyone was having to circle around. it only bothered me bc i was behind this slow guy who was a real “splasher” and i kept getting a face and mouth full of water. i passed him on occasion, but i still couldnt relax. i was too busy pushing myself as fast as possible trying to avoid the other swimmers. anyway, i was pushing so hard (out of anger, i think, not pleasure) that i ended up getting a cortisol spike with my BG numbers, so instead of my BGs going down or remaining steady, i ended up going high (for me). i did end up doing the full 90 minutes, and that horrible splashing man did get out of the pool (albeit not soon enough), but still i couldnt relax.what a total bummer. i am taking off tomorrow, but thursday i should be able to rectify my mood and enjoy my swim. **here are todays stats:** 12:30 bg 83 1:15 bg 92 (took 1.5 gtabs) 1:50 bg 89 (took 1/4 crumb of a gtab) 2:20 bg 97 2:50 bg 109 3:20 bg 122 (retested on meter, bg 123) bolused 2.2 units for missed basal and 1.4 units for refuel 3:40 bg 98 (all is restored, phew) my endo (as well as Eric) encouraged me to bring my insulin down to the pool with me and if i am doing a really hard swim, i should take some insulin right at the tail end of my last 1/2 hour length to head off the spike. this will be my next experiment when i feel secure enough to take the challenge 😉. signing out, **DM** ---
**Author:** ![Trying](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/trying/32/4078_2.png) [@Trying](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Trying)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2019, 9:11pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894/2077 "2019-08-06T21:11:35Z")
Well, still, @daisymae, for not getting into your groove you had pretty spectacular numbers!! Sorry it wasn’t as enjoyable though as it could have been. ---
**Author:** ![Tapestry](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/tapestry/32/4434_2.png) [@Tapestry](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Tapestry)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2019, 10:14pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894/2078 "2019-08-06T22:14:58Z")
Bummer that you were so stressed! You did start and end on great notes! Take tomorrow off, but watch some more swimming videos! Check out freestyle and the body roll! ---
**Author:** ![Eric](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/eric/32/9209_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Eric)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2019, 12:55pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894/2079 "2019-08-07T12:55:19Z")
> [@Tapestry](#): > > Check out freestyle 😀 I’ve been trying to get DM to swim freestyle for a long time! I hope she will listen to you! ---
**Author:** ![Tapestry](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/tapestry/32/4434_2.png) [@Tapestry](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Tapestry)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2019, 5:01pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894/2080 "2019-08-07T17:01:36Z")
> [@Eric](#): > > 😀 > I’ve been trying to get DM to swim freestyle for a long time! I hope she will listen to you! Ahh, I didn’t know that! Really DM, you can do it 🙂 give it a try at least! I was never the fastest swimmer on the team, but I did make it to Districts, once. 😊 I think there was an open slot and I got to go! It’s been _many_ years since I have lifeguarded/coached/taught, but there are a few things I remember well. 🙂 Pull and breathe, kick and glide being one … probably because this was my stroke! The other being the body roll with freestyle. The body roll made a _huge_ difference for me. I was actually a tad fearful I would not pass my timed distance test for lifeguarding and learned this skill just in time to use it to pass the test with ease! At the time I was in my 30s. I used videos too, to learn how to be a better coach and instructor (and lifeguard!), but they were VHS, lol, not YouTube! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![daisymae](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/daisymae/32/1199_2.png) [@daisymae](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/daisymae)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2019, 8:31pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894/2081 "2019-08-07T20:31:35Z")
> [@Tapestry](#): > > Pull and breathe, kick and glide this sounds very similar to how you would do a breast stroke! > [@Tapestry](#): > > The body roll made a _huge_ difference for me. i do do a body roll already, but not the flip turn one you see others doing when they freestyle. that i want to learn. and its not bc i dont know how to do the freestyle stroke, its bc i suck at it. i love doing the breast stroke!!! UTube has been very helpful to me BTW. ---
**Author:** ![daisymae](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/daisymae/32/1199_2.png) [@daisymae](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/daisymae)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2019, 8:34pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894/2082 "2019-08-07T20:34:36Z")
and one other thing: i did take today off as a “recovery” day. I treated myself to a really nice massage. i hadnt had one in so long, and it felt so amazing on my back, shoulders, and arms and neck. the massuse also did my head, hair and scalp. OMG!!! 😂 ---
**Author:** ![Tapestry](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/tapestry/32/4434_2.png) [@Tapestry](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Tapestry)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2019, 2:34am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894/2083 "2019-08-08T02:34:11Z")
> [@daisymae](#): > > this sounds very similar to how you would do a breast stroke! It is the breast stroke 🙂 I thought I had mentioned it was breast stroke in this conversation and didn’t want to repeat it, but it was in another. I should have repeated it! So sorry 🙂 > [@daisymae](#): > > i do do a body roll already, but not the flip turn one you see others doing when they freestyle. The body roll (aka rotation) that I’m talking about isn’t in how you turn at the wall, but the way your body rolls from side to side (rotates/glides) through the water. I looked for a few links that will help to explain it. Some are short, others are a little longer. A massage sounds loverly! How nice and what a bonus to have the head/hair/scalp included! Body roll = rotation Freestyle = front crawl [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/BvjRXLwXUvs/maxresdefault.jpg "10 drills to improve freestyle - Rolling") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvjRXLwXUvs) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/iCLz_guLzbM/maxresdefault.jpg "Front crawl Swimming technique - rolling the shoulders") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCLz_guLzbM) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/LFmrgGTUZX8/maxresdefault.jpg "Freestyle Breathing with Head and Body Rotation") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFmrgGTUZX8) [https://www.damfast.org/more.cfm?artid=5458&pagetitle=Tech%20Links](https://www.damfast.org/more.cfm?artid=5458&pagetitle=Tech%20Links) (the video is just a little bit down the page) Edited to add: Or, I misunderstood what you said when you said, I do do a body roll already …" and it’s just that you want to learn how to do a flip turn at the wall! Breast stroke is my stroke too, so I understand and can appreciate your affinity towards it 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![daisymae](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/daisymae/32/1199_2.png) [@daisymae](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/daisymae)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2019, 2:57pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894/2084 "2019-08-08T14:57:10Z")
thanks for the videos. i am going to check them out in about 15 minutes. yeah, i didnt realize that you were talking about the breast stroke. glad i have a stroke companion out there. i love the way it makes my body feel. i dont get the same feeling from doing freestyle. ---
**Author:** ![daisymae](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/daisymae/32/1199_2.png) [@daisymae](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/daisymae)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2019, 3:08pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894/2085 "2019-08-08T15:08:16Z")
just looked at the videos. i do do the roll already. but there is ALWAYS room for improvement!!! ---
**Author:** ![Tapestry](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/tapestry/32/4434_2.png) [@Tapestry](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Tapestry)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2019, 4:15pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894/2086 "2019-08-08T16:15:01Z")
@daisyma You’re welcome; I hope they help even just a little! I’ll swim through you, as my access to water is long gone 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![daisymae](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/daisymae/32/1199_2.png) [@daisymae](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/daisymae)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2019, 7:55pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894/2087 "2019-08-08T19:55:00Z")
**HOW I FIGURED THIS TRICK OUT EXPERIMENT # 8:** okay, here goes: i started thinking about what BG would i jump into the pool with if i did not need any Gtabs. the number i came up with was a BG of 120. so, i know that each of my tabs brings me up by 20 points. so, if i am about to jump into the pool and my BG is 100, i know to take 1 tab. you can figure out the rest 😉. it has been working for a few weeks now, and my numbers have been great. lots of work went into discovering this system. trial and error, mostly. but its proven itself reliable and effective. boy am i happy to have found an actual “formula.” now, some of you know that i began using the FreeStyle Libre Sensor last night. i was warned that it can take between 24 and 48 hours to kick in and get accurate. so, i am not freaking out about its readings. sometimes its been spot on, but other times its been rediculously off ( before my swim my BG was 95 by my meter and the Libre read 138 with an arrow going straight up) i took it with me down to the pool and kept it in a plastic sandwich bag. when i got out each 1/2 hour to finger stick, i tested my sensor against my meter, and it was off then, too. now,i am home, and for whatever reason, it is back in sync. i do hope it stays in sync, as it would be extremely helpful to me, especially since the dexcom did not work. anyway, i had a fabulous swim. i feel like myself again. i was off yesterday, and i was in such a crummy mood; finally, i realized why. i need water to bring me peace and calm and happiness and gratitude and all that is good and wonderful in the world 😂 **here are today’s stats:** 1:15 bg 95 took 1 tab 1:50 bg 93 took 1/4 tab (1 gm) 2:20 bg 80 2:50 bg 83 (took 2.3 units of basal replacement; just a guess today) 3:20 bg 73 (took 1.4 units to cover 34 gms of refuel carbs/protein) i’ll be back in the pool tomorrow, so until then, i am just hoping that my evening goes well. no real highs or lows, and certainly, no crashing. signing out, **DM** PS: it was weird swimming with the sensor on my shoulder; i was very aware of the slight drag that it caused while doing my strokes. its sooooo tiny and unobtrusive, i would never have thought that it could be this disconcerting, but it was. i suppose i’ll get used to it. fingers crossed 😊 ---
**Author:** ![daisymae](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/daisymae/32/1199_2.png) [@daisymae](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/daisymae)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2019, 7:58pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894/2088 "2019-08-09T19:58:50Z")
**ANOTHER DARING SWIM EXPERIMENT #1:** the daring part of the swim was that i decided NOT to take another Gtab after my first stretch. i did it just to find out what would happen. and, it worked out really well. i dont think i could have asked for more! 😊 it was a great strong swim. there were only 3 other people in the pool today. usually, there are at least 3 people in my lane. this was sheer Heaven!!! OMG. and i really took advantage of it. i swam right smack down the middle of the lane.and no children were there either 🤣. **here are today’s stats:** 1pm bg 84 1:20 bg 96 (took 1.25 Gtabs) 1:50 bg 87 2:20 bg 84 2:50 bg 91 (bolused 2.3 units basal replacement) 3:20 bg 67 (bolused 1.4 units for refuel) now this is particularly weird: as you know, i’ve just started on the FS Libre sensor. the first 2 days were wonky, but it seems to have become more accurate. HOWEVER, when i am walking to the pool, at the pool, and when i am done with my swim, i get these crazy out there readings. it has re-synced itself once i am home, and i am noticing about a 15 minute lag time from my finger sticks, but i just dont get what it has against the pool. some kind of inferiority complex or something 🤣 well, time will tell. hopefully this problem will adjust itself once the first 48 hours have passed; it would be extremely beneficial to have this as a swimming tool. fingers crossed. 🤞 taking off tomorrow, but will be back in the pool on Sunday. signing out, **DM** ---
**Author:** ![Tapestry](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/tapestry/32/4434_2.png) [@Tapestry](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Tapestry)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2019, 9:11pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894/2089 "2019-08-09T21:11:04Z")
Those are some great numbers @daisymae! How long do you stay sub 80 after you’re last reading here? ---
**Author:** ![Eric](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/eric/32/9209_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Eric)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2019, 9:42pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894/2090 "2019-08-09T21:42:01Z")
I think using a CGM like Libre is a helpful tool, but for swimming I would strongly encourage you to rely on the BG tests. The lag makes CGM somewhat risky for exercise. Use it when you are home, or at night, or whenever. But for swim time, stick with those BG tests!! Don’t tinker with your success! 😉 > [@daisymae](#): > > **here are today’s stats:** > > 1pm bg 84 > 1:20 bg 96 (took 1.25 Gtabs) > 1:50 bg 87 > 2:20 bg 84 > 2:50 bg 91 (bolused 2.3 units basal replacement) > 3:20 bg 67 (bolused 1.4 units for refuel) * * * * * * And also, how awesome are you, taking insulin at 67! 😀 > [@daisymae](#): > > 3:20 bg 67 (bolused 1.4 units for refuel) ---
**Author:** ![daisymae](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/daisymae/32/1199_2.png) [@daisymae](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/daisymae)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2019, 9:49pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894/2091 "2019-08-09T21:49:07Z")
> [@Eric](#): > > And also, how awesome are you, taking insulin at 67! tell me about it!!! I can hardly believe it myself!!! (but as you have taught me, after my swim, my BGs will bounce up really fast if i dont bolus. and i’ve witnessed it first hand, so i know. 😊) > [@Eric](#): > > The lag makes CGM somewhat risky for exercise. i hear ya on that one. no problem there. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![daisymae](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/daisymae/32/1199_2.png) [@daisymae](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/daisymae)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2019, 9:51pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894/2092 "2019-08-09T21:51:10Z")
> [@Tapestry](#): > > How long do you stay sub 80 after you’re last reading here? i think it lasted about 1 hour or so. i was completely comfortable, though. i didnt feel low or anything. besides, i had just drank 32gms of fast carbs and had some spoonfulls of yogurt, so i knew that my BG would come up eventually. (if not, then i would deal with that later.) [Previous page](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894.md?page=103) [Next page](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894.md?page=105)