dehydration and low blood sugar story

[goddess1222]

ok, here was my weekend. rode hard on sunday, afterwards, my legs felt like bricks, drank water all day, ate good etc. rode easy 45 min. yesterday, ate before i left ( i eat religiously alllll the time). ate two Luna bars when i got back, took the laudry up to the laudromat, and long story short, paramedics had to come and collect me because i got dizzy, sweating through my feet, hot, etc. they checked my blood sugar, and it didn't even register on the machine!!! how can this be when i eat like a pig before i ride and after? i spent 4 hours in the emergency room as a human pin cushion. had another episode this morning. yes i am going to the doctor tomorrow.
they told me i need to eat more ( how is that possible?), and more frequent. i also get to put a little fat into my diet. i don't eat a lot of fat.
i have been drinking gatorade and water like crazy, i am now just starting to feel normal.

doctor at the ER told me to drink, drink, drink, eat more frequently, and cut back activity a little.

the fluid they put in through my I.V. made me feel a heap better.

ok, goddesses, please don't scold me, i just need some positive reinforcement, so i will learn from this and stop living my life at full tilt all the time.
hey Irulan:::: i think it's great that you stop to notice nature on the mt. bike. i am going to take your advice and slow down the spin just a bit.

it was extremely scary........

[Veronica]

That is scary. Did any of the blood tests come back indicating anything? Maybe you're just coming down with something. But I'm glad you're checking with your regular doc. :)

Take it easy and let us know how it turns out.

Veronica

[waterlilli]

Glad to hear that you are okay now. I sure hope that everything with the doc turns out alright for you. Be safe.

[goddess1222]

my mom thinks it could be the flu. i will know more tomorrow. thanks for the words of encouragement!!

[IronHorse213]

Hey goddess - hope you're feeling better today. I have problems with insulin intolerance (diabetes runs in the family) and if I find that it I don't watch what I'm eatting, more than how much I can get in trouble. The low blood sugar thing may be accounted for by what you ate and what you didn't - though I'm sure not a nutritionist, but maybe having fruit or even veggies after a ride would have been better. It sounds like you experienced an insulin peak in your system that sucked all the sugar out. like someone else said, check with your doctor. hope things go well!!
'calla

[goddess1222]

well, i am now back from my doctor, and the lab where they took 4 vials of blood to check everything from my liver function to my thyroid. all is normal. they even did a glycohemoglobin test where they check your blood sugar for the last 90 days, it was normal too. doctors put me on Pedialyte, the "baby gatorade," and eating bigger more frequent meals. i am still a tad dizzy, but not as bad. my dad has been checking my blood sugar every day and it's within normal limits.

i have finally been diagnosed with hypoglycemia. no diabetes, they tested for that too.

just really have to watch myself.

thanks for the words.

[Kathi]

That's interesting! Years ago I was diagnosed as borderline hypoglycemic. I had to go through a 5 or 7hr, don't remember, test to get the diagnosis. Never got retested. However, I still experience the same symtoms.

Back then hypoglycemia was a popular diagnosis, everyone had it it seems, but you don't hear much about it anymore.

I always carry an energy bar with me and sometimes trail mix. If I think there's no food on a long ride I carry a peanut butter sandwich and sometimes an apple. When I start to feel hungry I know I have to eat and don't push it.

I also have Accelerade in my pack.

For breakfast I have a bowl of oatmeal and a protein smoothie. Without the smoothie I feel empty all day.

My dad was also diabetic.

I generally don't have problems as long as I pay attention to the warning signs but it's a pain to worry about food all the time.

Good luck,

Kathi

[Grasshopper]

My entire family is hypoglycemic including me. I have to make sure that with all the carbs I'm getting protein - lots of protein!! In what ever form you can eat it. Especially when you start getting lightheated and get the cold sweats. Yes your blood sugar is low but eating straight sugar will make it spike then it'll just bottom out again later and you'll feel worse....if you can eat something to make it rise a little more steadily - like honey or whole grains...and mix it with something to hold it there like protein you'll feel much better!!

Sometimes I have to choke down a piece of cheese or meat, feeling the whole time like I'm going to toss it!! But within 10 minutes or so I'm fine. The times I've grabbed a coke or sugarie drink it seems to take much longer to recover! (having said that - it they're dailing 911 drink the coke and then worry about the meat!!!! Get beyond the crisis first!)

Good luck - I hope you'll find this is a pretty easy thing to manage as long as you are proactive about it!

[waterlilli]

Goddess- I am glad to hear that you are okay and that it is somthing controllable.
I try to eat some protein with every meal. I just tried some protein powder that is really great. It is soy, no carbs and one gram fat. It mixes really well into things and I do not even notice it in most food. It helps make smoothies thick, not that I am a big smootie person. Just thought I would mention it, because I have also put it in with my gu drink for protein on long journeys.

[adkoch]

Waterlilli - I am interested to know what brand of powder that is - I think it's hard to find one that is low-carb, low-fat...

Angie

[waterlilli]

It is Naturade 100% soy. I got it at Albertsons (you may not have one) I have not looked at the site much but here it is:
http://www.naturade.com/

[bikerchick68]

goddess... my husband is also borderline hypoglycemic and I can tell immediately when hsi blood sugar drops... he goes from Prince Charming to Who the He!! are YOU??? It is unbelievable how drastically his mood swings... he doesn't always realize it and doesn't even realize he's hungry sometimes... especially if we're in the middle of a project on our house... he carries Cliffbars now (they have decent protein) and also bananas for an instant fix... then he'll have some peanut butter for protein...

Glad you got diagnosed and that it's something controllable if you just pay attention to it... your experience would've scared the heck outta me!

[Barb]

Bikerchick, it's funny you mentioned that. When I get really cranky my family feeds me! It's a sure sign that I didn't eat well enough and protein fixes me right up. Sometimes I will drink a coke and take a nap until dinner is ready. The coke makes me feel better but I get tired, then I just need a good dinner.