Hypoglycemia & Exercise

[colormist]

I think I've already brought this up before, but I can't remember where or find it, so here goes nothing.

Last night I had dinner (typical dinner at that) and an hour later I went downstairs for a half-hour of exercise. After exercising I was horribly hypoglycemic and ended up running back upstairs and eating all the leftovers from the dinner.

Ergo, hypoglycemia is completely voiding out any attempts at exercise. No amount of self-control is preventing the binge session.

I'm trying to evaluate options during exercise to prevent the hypoglycemia, but thought I'd check and see what everyone else does. I was thinking about swapping out my usual bottle of water with a bottle of water laced with glucose, but I'm not sure if that would help that much.

[charlie]

That would help short term but probably send you lower later. Your best bet it to time your exercise better. If you had a full dinner then your body was probably still digesting things especially if it was complex carbs and proteins mixed (proteins take about 4 hours to digest). It is becoming more and more apparent that those with Fructose Issues seem to have poorer instant energy reserves maybe as the liver isn't functioning optimally. You are far better to have a small carb snack ( I seem to think dairy is no good for you but if OK then a milk drink) about 20 mins before exercise and then again straight after exercise and have a main meal later.

[colormist]

That's what was weird. I had a small bowl of pasta salad an hour before exercise. Really small amount of protein (mini-pepperonis and olives). I think, if anything, I burnt through all the energy the food provided.

If I did do a glucose drink, I would have to have a small snack afterward. I usually have to eat something small after exercising--just wasn't expecting as bad of a crash as I had last night.

[binky]

Colormist- if it makes you feel better, when ever I workout weither I eat right before, during, hours before or right after, 9 times out of 10 I pass out. Cold most of the time. It's so disapointing but there it is.

(I'm completely new, so if I am out of line, sorry. )

[colormist]

Nah, you're not out of line. I think I've got a system down now. I mix glucose into my water and drink that while exercising (exercising an hour after eating) and eat something small after exercising. I'm really not sure it even helps considering I eat so much extra just to exercise. LOL It probably ends up being a complete wash. I think doing some high-impact 15-minute exercises might be best. I'll have to try a few different types of exercises and see which ones yield the least amount of passing-out-ness.

[binky]

I bought Fluidity exercise system and that works pretty well for me. No special eating required but it will make you really tired. I tend to nap right after. The idea of adding glucose to my water and drinking it make my stomach cramp just thinking about it. However, I would be willing to try becuase I need to move more.

[Lisa Marie]

I have a carnitine deficiency which screws up my sugar levels to begin with. It is suspected that I have a fatty oxidation disorder.

When the body is low on carnitine it cannot utilize fats for energy. This makes the body totally rely on glucose levels. In this condition you end up using up all the sugar in an instant. I am unable to exercise because of this at present. Some folks with this problem can damage the heart, liver, and muscles. My grandmother had the exact same problem.

The funny thing is the sugar levels at the low end of normal can be dangerous for people like me. It kind of sucks because no one really believes me when I go to the er. Sometimes I can't eat enough sugar and need an iv to correct. So it can be a stubborn thing.

I am waiting for my hfi test results in the next few weeks. I don't know if that is what I have, but if not then I definitely believe I have fructose malabsorption.

I have read that it is possible to have carnitine deficency secondary to fructose malabsorption. In truth if malabsorption is involved there are a whole host of amino acids that a person could be deficient in.

Since I can't break down fats I do take MCT oil every once in a while. I should take it more. MCT is medium chain triglycerides and don't require carnitine for absorption into the cells. Coconut oil is about 60% MCT oil.

Regardless, you might look into your fat intake and make sure you are getting enough as this gives a person a lot of energy for exercise.

Lisa Marie

PS Carnitine deficiencies are very misunderstood by the docs. If anyone wants to investigate I strongly advise going with your geneticist or a metabolic specialist. Even your geneticist might think they know what they are doing and don't'. You'll be wasting your time otherwise as most labs will get goofed up. Also you can't really take the otc because it isn't high enough to build up the deficiency.

Sorry for the book......

[Lisa Marie]

Sorry, I should add that for me it is mandatory that I eat less than 25g of fat per day. Otherwise I get pretty sick......

[charlie]

Hi Lisa Marie, re other amino acids I think on the fructose malabsorbtion website they talk about inability to absorb tryptophan as the fructose can block its absorbtion and symptoms of that deficiency can be muscle cramps, lack of concentration, insomnia and mood swings.

good luck with the investigations

[Lisa Marie]

Thanks for the information, Charlie

[meaniejean]

Hey - Cal has a carnitine deficiency as well! Hmmm ... They didn't tell us what to do about it, but we have discovered on our own that we can't handle fat.

Laura - I have been using the eLoad energy gels and they are fantastic. I also have the eDiscs (I think that is what they are called) and they dissolve in water to make a fructose-free energy drink. Kinda salty, but I like it.

-Sandra

[colormist]

I'll have to sneak into a supplement store sometime soon and try them out. I'm feeling so pathetic here recently.

[meaniejean]

I've only been able to find the supplements online - I order them through a sports website. If you PM me your address I can send some of the gels to you so you can make sure you like them first.

I have been pretty pathetic on the exercise front here ... and I'm doing a 20-mile walk in October, so I need to get in gear!