Hypoglycemia - How to Deal?

[fencergal33]

Ok DFP's thread on combatting heat exhaustion got such a massive response, that I thought maybe someone out there can help me.

As long as I can remember, I've had problems with my blood sugar's stability. When it drops it drops fast. About two years ago, I developed this nasty habit of passing out because of it. I saw a couple doctor's and they decided it was Hypoglycemia. Peachy. The problem? All they could tell me to do was "eat several small meals a day." It doesn't help!!!! Unfortunately, the condition gets even worse at tournaments, and I try to eat between bouts, but it doesn't always work. I've tried high protien, low carb, no sugar, blah blah blah, but nothing works.

Who's got some suggestions of what to eat before/during a tourney to keep from passing out?

[JEC]

High carbohydrate dinner ... spaguetti, etc. High carbohydrate breakfast (with little or no fat) and some protein. Some Gatorate after every bout.

[Fencergrl]

I used to have the same problem... Doctors used to recommend high carbs, but they now recommend more protein. It stabilizes your blood sugar longer. I recommend you talk to a doctor, specialist or dietitian as they would offer better advice than what you would find on a fencing forum.

[fencergal33]

I DID talk to a doctor....two actually. They couldn't help me and ran all sorts of tests. After I passed out in the doctor's office, he told me that "my blood sugar wasn't low enough for him to be concerned." (Forget about the fact that I passed out.) He sent me to a nutritionist. That guy was crap. He wouldn't even recommend a diet for me to follow. He just kept saying, "You're not diabetic."

I KNOW I can get better advice from doctor's than from a fencing forum, but the doctors are crappy, and I was just wondering if anyone else had this problem and what they did.

[grotto]

Fencergal find a sports medicine doc.they are more likely to take your condition seriously. My wife has a very similar condition. (each persons is a bit different) She finds a high protein diet works best for her the high carb diet made her crash at tournements, so it was back to steak, chicken fish etc. you can get a blood sugar tester and with a docs help monitor it. experiment with the carb / protein ratio till you find a good stable balance for you. One of the things she found is to keep a very rigid schedule of when she eats. Doctors often dismiss hypoglycemia, but for an athlete it can have very detrimental effects. take charge of your healthcare and demand good solutions. Educate yourself so you know about your condition what various research says and the latest treatment regimens. Take all this to a Doc willing to help and work with you.

good luck

[Bryn Ralph]

I agree w/ Grotto: consult a sports medicine clinic. Aye, protein seems to be the dietary component to pursue. And plenty of Gatorade to replenish those electrolytes!

[Ordway]

I'll second the recommendation for protein. Also, for the carbohydrates, try to aim for compex carbohydrates rather than simple sugars - they take longer to digest and so their release of sugar into the bloodstream is more steady.

Learn about the glycemic index of foods and look for carbs with the lower glycemic indices.

[epeeisky]

Everyone in my family is hypolglycemic to a certain degree. I dont have it as bad as you do. I just eat a high carb and protein diet the night before, a high carb brekfast, then during the tournement I have a couple of those nasty tasting sports bars, you know the ones that taste like wood chips. As others have said this may not work for you since every person os uniquely different.

[blademaster]

I have somewhat mild hypoglycemia although my mother has a severe form. Back in the Eighties, when she was seeking medical treatment, several doctors refused to believe she had a problem (despite blackouts, extremely low periods of energy, etc.). She took the matter into her own hands, eating a very strict diet for eight years (no ice cream, candy bars, etc.; going for high protein, low carbohydrates). Today, she always carries a bag of walnuts and cheese with her to hold off the sudden crashes.

You know the rule that you're supposed to drink before you're thirsty (i.e. during a bicycle race) otherwise you're already behind the problem? I make sure to eat before I'm hungry, especially at tournaments (I usually eat a Cliff bar every 1 1/2 hrs, a sandwiche that is heavy on protein every 2-2 1/2 hours). Also, orange juice is an excellent supply of quick energy. I bring all the food that I will possibly need with me (never rely on concession stands unless you want the low-blood sugar to overcome you during the second DE bout!). It is a fine line between eating too little (and getting the bonk) and too much and becoming sleepy. A diet that is heavier on protein than the food pyramid recommends (a la The Zone) has worked for me. Good luck. It is a very tricky problem to figure out, one that has ruined many tournaments for me (coaches and friends always asking me, after losing a DE after leading by five + touches, why did I suddenly lose interest and throw in the towel? and I would have to explain that I could barely grip the foil and that my knees were shaking from the low blood sugar).

[lindajdunn]

Unfortuantely, the only way I've found to determine the best diet is through trial and error. Doctors aren't much help (imho) and other people's advice is tailored to their situation.

I eliminated simple carbohydrates. It's a rather severe approach, but it works.

Miss it? Just because I remember the last candy bar was April 9, 2004? Lots of fruit. No Twinkies or Snickers.

[howtobrew]

Read the South Beach Diet book by Arthur Agatston, M.D.

It explains how your body processes food, with the result that a lower carb diet makes sense, especially for hypoglycemics.

The book is by a cardiologist, and as an engineer, it was very logical to me.
There is also a website of course. southbeachdiet.com or something.

[esskreemr]

Originally Posted by fencergal33

Ok DFP's thread on combatting heat exhaustion got such a massive response, that I thought maybe someone out there can help me.

As long as I can remember, I've had problems with my blood sugar's stability. When it drops it drops fast. About two years ago, I developed this nasty habit of passing out because of it. I saw a couple doctor's and they decided it was Hypoglycemia. Peachy. The problem? All they could tell me to do was "eat several small meals a day." It doesn't help!!!! Unfortunately, the condition gets even worse at tournaments, and I try to eat between bouts, but it doesn't always work. I've tried high protien, low carb, no sugar, blah blah blah, but nothing works.

Who's got some suggestions of what to eat before/during a tourney to keep from passing out?

1) None of us are nutrionists.
2) Without know what you typically eat, the suggestions here are just shots in the dark.

The phrase "they decided it was hypoglycemia" is troubling. Was this the result of tests or a 'we don't know but this is as close as we can get' diagnosis?

[JEC]

The diagnosis of episodic hypoglycemia is difficult to make because it requires to measure the serum glucose level at the time that the person is symptomatic and it is found to be considerably low. Thus, it is most often used as a presumed clinical diagnosis.

[fencergal33]

Originally Posted by esskreemr

The phrase "they decided it was hypoglycemia" is troubling. Was this the result of tests or a 'we don't know but this is as close as we can get' diagnosis?

That's exactly it. They really don't know. I had to sit for the stupid 5 hour glucose tolerance test. About 3.5 hours in, I passed out in the doctor's office. They test my blood sugar, and it's at 60. Then they tell me that "60 isn't low enough for them to be concerned." .....forget about the fact that I passed out.....

[Fencergrl]

Originally Posted by fencergal33

I KNOW I can get better advice from doctor's than from a fencing forum, but the doctors are crappy, and I was just wondering if anyone else had this problem and what they did.

Sorry... Fencergal, low blood sugar can be a very serious situation and I wanted to make sure that your doctor is at least aware of it. It is not something that should be ignored.

Mine was related to my thyroid. I was diagnosed as having low blood sugar when I was 18, so I made sure I ate every 4-5 hours. By the time I was 38 I was having to eat every .5 to 1 hours, I had to keep food beside my bed because I would have dreams of passing out and would awaken at 2 am to have a light snack because my blood sugar was too low.... at THAT point my blood test finally showed that all the symptoms I was having (low blood sugar being one of many) were because my thyroid quit working.

Were the various doctors incompetent? No... the chemicals, blood sugar and hormones fluctuate, the tests just were not catching it. So I had to pay a lot of attention to my diet until they figured it out. I found what worked for me by reading and experimenting.

I agree with you and the others that a good part of figuring out what works best for you is experimenting on your own, as everyone is different.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is becoming aware of the signs that your blood sugar is dropping.... the earlier you detect it the less bouncing it will do. Having low blood sugar means developing body awareness and always being prepared to deal with it.

You may also want to see if the Diabetic Association has any information or check out web sites for Runners. I find there’s some great info on those sites when it comes to diet, one might have an article on exercising and low blood sugar.

Good luck! And let us know how you do.

[esskreemr]

Originally Posted by fencergal33

That's exactly it. They really don't know. I had to sit for the stupid 5 hour glucose tolerance test. About 3.5 hours in, I passed out in the doctor's office. They test my blood sugar, and it's at 60. Then they tell me that "60 isn't low enough for them to be concerned." .....forget about the fact that I passed out.....

Well... I'm not a doctor or a nutritionist so...

Did they do pituitary and thyroid tests? As fecergrrl pointed out, hypoglycemia can be a symptom of an underlying problem. As JEC noted, medical tests are not infallible due to the multitudinous (don't get to use that word every day) factors that are involved in the extremely complex metabolic cycle of all living things.

Continue to get your doctor's input. Get a testing kit if you don't have one.

Keep a diet log. See a registered dietician. They can help you go over your diet and point out any metabolic 'bomb' you may be consuming.

I would suggest (as someone else did above) taking a look at the glycemic index. Choose foods with a low score for your base caloric intake with a high score food here and there as a snack whenever you feel the need. I'm sure you know to avoid high-sugar foods. In addition, foods that don't initially seem to be high in sugar are everywhere. For instance, white bread, anything with enriched flour for that matter, causes the same metabolic reaction as table sugar. This is an initial spike in serum glucose levels, an insulin response, and then a dip in serum glucose levels. The same effect can be caused by drinking sodas and other high-sugar foods.

Don't jump on the high-protein diet. Its long term effects haven't been studied and the initial stages can have definite detrimental effects on athletic performance.

Take a look at Cracking the Metabolic Code
http://www3.addall.com/New/compare.c...itle=&state=AK
this book will definitely change your views on how you eat and doesn't recommend dangerous diets such as Atkin's and ultra-low fat eating. It's written in an extremely informative manner which includes highly medical lingo. Once you get past the first couple of chapters, though, it is much easier to understand. I liked the fact that he didn't 'write down' to his readers supposed levels. It was VERY informative and describes a series of modifications you could use to help determine what is causing your hypoglycemia. Of special interests to you would be the sections on under-functioning thyroids and pancreatic disorders that often go in 'under the radar' of the standard set of medical tests.

Doctors traditionally prescribe a pill for every ill. But for most people, these single solutions don't work. The truth is, most chronic health problems, including stubborn weight gain, unbeatable fatigue, intestinal distress, high blood pressure, creeping cholesterol, and high blood sugar, are not found in simply one organ, but in several parts of the body (often times in twos and threes). This is the result of years of slow, subtle challenges to your metabolism, which is as unique as you are. Your lifestyle habits, stess level, prescription drug use, and relationships, as well as the genes you inherit and the environment in which you live-in effect, the sum total of your life expierence up to this day-determine your personal metabolism and, in turn, your current state of health.

Using a step-by-step, easy-to-implement system of diet, lifestyle strategies, and state-of-the-art nutrients and supplements, Dr. James LaValle will help you create an indiviudalized program for reclaiming your metabolism and health.

As always, take the advice of us non-medical types with a grain of salt.

[howtobrew]

Originally Posted by fencergal33

That's exactly it. They really don't know. I had to sit for the stupid 5 hour glucose tolerance test. About 3.5 hours in, I passed out in the doctor's office. They test my blood sugar, and it's at 60. Then they tell me that "60 isn't low enough for them to be concerned." .....forget about the fact that I passed out.....

As another SWAG, my niece had a problem with passing out, that they thought was hypoglycemia initially, but then they determined it was more electrolyte related. I will call them tonight to find out more of what she had/resolution and post back tonight.