Hypoglycemia???

[Sparky]

So Many Questions!!!
Last year I was diagnosed with hypoglycemia. I have been trying to educate myself about hypoglycemia and more specifically in exercise situations. I have not found much information available. I was wondering if any of you could offer some advise or share your experiences.

I struggle with trying to figure out what to eat in endurance situations. Also, I have had experiences post exercise when I think I have made good refueling choices.

I have asked my doctor a few questions. He does not seem to be able to give me clear answers regarding the exercise aspect. His advise to eat more protein poses another question for me. I do not like meat, what am I supposed to eat. I eat nuts and beans what else works??

What about sports drinks, supplements, etc ?????

[bmccasland]

Having had this myself, and writing this totally off the cuff at work... the diet is essentially the same as a diabetic diet. You need to watch your sugar (carbohydrate) intake. Many sports drinks have a lot of sugar in them, so you'll need to be careful. You need to eat more frequent small meals. Have a bit of cheese with an apple. It's important to not skip meals.

If you're one to drink sugar in your tea or coffee or drink sodas, you'll need to cut back, retrain you're taste buds to less, and/or switch to artifical sweeteners. No more sugar (real) syrup on your pancakes - try applesauce with cinnamon.

Find a dietician, either through your doctor's office, hospital, or insurance company and work with them.

There are some pretty good diabetic cookbooks out there, hit your local book store and get one or two.

Good luck!

[ny biker]

Dairy products are good sources of protein. Yogurt is good on its own and also good in smoothies.

Eggs are good for protein, too.

[Sparky]

Thanks for the replies! I have been thinking maybe I should set up an appt with a nutrition expert of some sort. Darn that will cut into the "bike stuff" budget though.

I guess for rides I will just have to experiment and see what works for me. I have started carrying more of my own snacks on organized rides. Instead of relying on what is provided.

[bouncybouncy]

Look into Hammer products as a tool for your endurance rides. I know nothing about hypoglycemia but I do deal with major headaches during high intensity or endurance rides (making me think about getting tested now)

Anyway, Hammer does not use alot of sugar which does hamper its taste a bit but when you are in hour 5 of a 12 hour or mile 20 of a 100 miler just keeping up with your nutritional intake is difficult! Hammer has been a wonderful tool in my adventures!!! I rely heavily on Perpetuem...and it does not taste too bad either!

http://www.hammernutrition.com/

***not saying it will solve your problems...just a good tool in the midst of your new diet!

[ny biker]

Soy is a good source of protein, too. I use soy milk in my cereal. It even has a little fiber. And you can use tofu instead of meat in some recipes.

You can also buy soy nuts for snacking on rides.

[OakLeaf]

Check the nutrition section, there are a couple of threads on protein. You really don't need animal products OR soy for protein if you don't want them.

Remember that exercise raises blood sugar and improves your glucose tolerance as well. I only have trouble with low blood sugar when I've been missing workouts. I honestly can't say I've ever experienced it during exercise. YMMV

[Susan Otcenas]

Sparky,

My sister Dorothy is hypoglycemic. She also has a Master's in Exercise Physiology and coaches athletes in triathlon and other endurance sports. She's got a gazillion certifications from USAT and ACSM. You might shoot her an email and talk to her about setting up a nutrition or training plan for you.

I don't typically plug my sister's business because it seems like a bit of a conflict of interest, but because she's also hypoglycemic, it occurred to me that she would be particularly qualified to help you.

http://trisportstraining.com/

Hope this helps.

Susan

[Sparky]

Team estrogen is a wonderful website!! Everyone is so helpful.
Thank you Susan I appreciate the info about your sister. I will have to check that out. I have been browsing the nutrition threads plenty of interesting reading there.
BouncyBouncy I use the endurolyte capsules by hammer but have not tried their other products. The other day I was on the hammer website reading up on the products I almost ordered the perpetuem, now I might have to. I do get the major headaches. I guess it might be worth checking on. I honestly do not know much aboout hypoglycemia yet. I found out I have it because of a blood test for something else. It all made sense though. I had been struggling to figure out how to fuel myself properly for long rides and failing miserably most of the time. At least I have a better starting point now.

[batsheva]

i have yo yo sugars and would bonk with hypoglycemias in response to the high sugar intake i was having to fuel myself when riding - i switched from cytomax to Gu2O which has less sugar/lower glycemic index and the perpetual bonking was cured overnight - the lower glycemic Gu2O works for me supplementing with their Gu gels - all the Hammer products caused the yo yo sugar thing also and would make me feel very ill and wiped out-- i guess it might be a case of trying some different products and just assessing your body's response to them and seeing what gives you enough sugar to fuel effectively without ending up hypo.

there are many causes of hypoglycemia, but the most common one in non diabetics is 'reactive' hypoglycemia - ie. in response to seeing sugar coming into the bloodstream, the body kind of overreacts and mops the excessive sugar up TOO effectively (talking simplistically), resulting in the paradoxical situation that eating sugar gives you LOW blood sugar-- your problem may or may not be this one - if your symptoms are 1.5 to 2 hrs after intake of high-carb food, it is likely to be this scenario.

i also have medication to stop the hyper/hypo glycemia thing seeing as my hypos only happen in response to high sugar intake and the consequent high blood glucose levels. the medication is acarbose and slows carbohydrate absorption in the gut so as to achieve more stable blood glucose and insulin response, colloquially called a 'carb blocker' although this is a prescription med usually presribed for diabetics, not a health food shop type 'carb blocker'.

maybe just a referral from your family physician to a diabetic endocrinologist if you are insured might be an economic way to get some help on blood glucose management and exercise, just for the cost of a 'co-pay'?? although it seems on the surface that hypoglycemia is the opposite to diabetes, management of them both in terms of diet (as one of the posts above said), is very similar-- so googling 'diabetes and exercise' might also give you some helpful info--

sorry to be a long winded post!

batsheva

[batsheva]

something else i have found--

i know fructose/high fructose corn syrup gets a real bad rap-- BUT metabolism of these sugars does not require insulin in the same way as glucose metabolism - so choosing products with fructose or high fructose corn syrup as the primary ingredient rather than ones with dextrose or glucose as the first ingredient has also helped.

if i get hypo on a ride, I always found a can of full 'sugar' Pepsi, which is HFCS sorted the problem wonderfully - got the fuel into me without the subsequent 'bonk' that happens with glucose intake--

i wouldnt dream of eating stuff with HFCS in usually - but on a ride it works fabulously for me to keep me going without bonking--

bat

[Sparky]

I have an annual appt. with my endocrinologists next month. She is great. I see her for hypothyroid but I think our discussion is going to center around the other "hypo." I found out about the hypoglycemia late last fall so I haven't had an appt with the endo. till now.

[WindingRoad]

Sparky,

I too have hypoglycemia. I don't claim to know it all but I have recently discovered a very great new product. Lara Bars seem to work wonderfully for mid ride snack or post ride. They don't have any added sweeteners. Basically they are just fruit with nuts. It's cool because it's got the nuts in them to slow down the absorption of the fruit sugars and it will sustain me for a good 2 to 3 hours depending on if I'm riding/running or just studying. I tend to need to eat frequently but I hear that comes with the territory. Peanut butter has been a lifesaver for me too. I am a student and a cyclist so I ride to and from campus which is about 10 miles each way. I have been so busy at school that I didn't eat enough to 'get home' and had to bust out my emergency peanut butter sandwich. A total lifesaver. I encourage this. Make a simple peanut butter sandwich on a hearty type of bread (not white). This can make your whole world better. I don't know about you but I mutate into a whole other evil person when my blood sugar crashes. It can get ugly so I always try to have something on hand in case the 'evil one' decides to come out and snap someones head off Hope your doctors appointment gives you some insight too.

[OakLeaf]

I have been so busy at school that I didn't eat enough to 'get home' and had to bust out my emergency peanut butter sandwich. A total lifesaver.

Yes, that's a very good point. I forget the exact statistics, but your brain uses a phenomenal amount of glucose, and when you're sitting and thinking hard like you do in school or some types of work, your body doesn't respond by kicking up blood sugar levels the way it does when you're exerting yourself physically. Some of my worst blood sugar crashes have been in situations like that. It's made for a very, very unsafe trip home, particularly if I'm on the motorcycle.

Now that the season's getting ready to kick back up, thanks for the reminder to stash some fresh LaraBars or ProBars in my tank bag.

[polly4711]

I'm borderline hypoglycemic. I went through the testing, and my numbers weren't exactly as required for the circumstance, but the doc still warned me. Some of my favorite snacks to take on rides are animal crackers (the ones that are more of a cracker than a cookie)... fig newtons, and emeralds (it's a brand) breakfest blend of trailmix. I also fill up 2/3 of my water bottles with water and then the other bit wiht gatorade.....


good luck with everything!