Originally Posted by
LoriRose
Yes, or something like it. Reactive hypoglycemia. My blood sugar will rise then drop quickly after eating, and will also drop quickly after too much physical activity. A few years ago it was to the point where I would have to nap after a shower because it was too physically demanding...I would get light-headed, shaky, confused, have slurred speech and would be so hungry it felt like I hadn't eaten in days - just from a friggin shower. DR said no more sugar, simple carbs, etc., and I had to eat small about every 2 hrs with lots of fat and protein to keep myself feeling full. A year and a half of a VERY strict diet (couldn't eat most fruits or sweet veggies, no wheat, potatoes, rice, no sugar in any form, no fruit juice) and then several years of slowly allowing myself bites of simple carbs here n there and whatever it was that was broken has now mostly been fixed but I still have to be careful. Relying on simple carbs to get me through a ride could potentially put me back to where I was before. I wouldn't touch a sports drink or gel with a 10 foot pole. This girl needs fat and protein with her sugar!
I, like many endurance athletes, also have reactive hypoglycemia, though I never let it get as bad as yours. I went to my doctor and got a glucose tolerance test. I changed my off-bke diet; that was maybe 25 years ago.
However on the bike it doesn't work like you think it does. The problems are sort of the opposite due to your (and my) extraordinary ability to process simple carbs quickly. I have experienced hypoglycemia on the bike, but only during very long rides in the 200k+ range. I develop visual problems, not comfortable! That's due to a lack of carbs. When I increase my consumption, it goes away. Anyway, here a some links for you to look at:
Once exercise has been initiated for at least 20min, and during prolonged training and racing situations (1hr+ ), the consumption of sports-drinks will drastically reduce the likelihood of hypoglycemia by maintaining blood glucose concentrations.
http://www.runhilaryrun.ca/Images/At...poglycemia.pdf
Because of rapid gastric emptying characteristic of reactive hypoglycemia, it would appear that pre-exercise supplementation may be of particular value to the hypoglycemic exerciser. Further, recent studies (Bergstrom & Hultman, 1967; Coyle et al., 1983; Foster et al., 1986; Leatt & Jacobs, 1986; Horton, 1988) indicate that carbohydrate solutions taken during exercise are effective in maintaining serum glucose levels and improving endurance performance. Careful monitoring of nutritional factors would appear to be critical in creating a suitable dietary environment for the hypoglycemic endurance exerciser.
Hypoglycemia and endurance exercise: dietary considerations. - PubMed - NCBI
Although an increase in plasma insulin following carbohydrate ingestion in the hour before exercise inhibits lipolysis and liver glucose output, and can lead to transient hypoglycaemia during subsequent exercise in susceptible individuals, there is no convincing evidence that this is always associated with impaired exercise performance. However, individual experience should inform individual practice.
Pre-exercise carbohydrate and fat ingestion: Effects on metabolism and performance (PDF Download Available)
Carbohydrate feeding during exercise in general:
A Step Towards Personalized Sports Nutrition: Carbohydrate Intake During Exercise