Most people cut carbs when they're preparing for an aesthetic fitness event, like a bodybuilding competition or of course, a pageant. Being diabetic throws a spanner in the works; this means that, while its all fun-and-games to be able to take fewer insulin injections when you're eating less carbohydrates, storage becomes an issue, and I find myself running low and feeling not-quite-right. It's a balancing act. Last year, I managed to get into the best fitness and physical shape of my life, through a combination of careful eating, testing and exercising. My medication has since changed though, and I'm struggling to shed the unwanted layers of fat (my body type likes a bit of fat tissue, I just want to be a little tighter!). "Fasted cardio" seemed to work for me last time, so where possible, I would wake up early and get a session in, providing my blood sugar level was high enough to avoid any issues. That, and I was only working part-time then (joys!), so had more time AND more energy! Fasted cardio is supposed to work by using stored fats for energy, when there is less carbohydrate and insulin around. When non-diabetics eat, insulin is released by the pancreas, the transport nutrients into the cells, so that they can be used for energy. Insulin ALSO impairs the breakdown of fats, so when there's lots of it around, carbohydrates are broken down into energy and fats are not. In a fasted state, e.g. when you first wake up in the morning, it's easier for your body to utilise fat storage for energy instead of sugars. I'm not, by any means, suggesting that ANYONE starve themselves - that would counterproductive and dangerous. Enter: metabolic disorder, Diabetes Mellitus. My body doesn't make insulin. Ever. That's because, in a freak mistake when I was 2 or 3 years old, my immune system got very confused, and mistook the specialised cells in my pancreas that make insulin for "baddies", and destroyed them. The result is Type 1 Diabetes. Instead, I take insulin via injection, several times daily. If I don't, I can get pretty ill, and it's all very unpleasant. When it comes to fasted cardio, I don't make any insulin anyway, so there are no natural peaks. SURELY, I can use this to my advantage? However, if there's no glucose in your cells, your body thinks you're starving, and breaks down sugars stored in your liver, which need to be replaced (please see my post "Beacons": http://thesugarfiles.tumblr.com/post/136137594529/beacons). So, it's time to figure this thing out all over again. With four weeks to go until Miss Galaxy England, let's hope it works!
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