Possible low blood sugar after workout?
I have a question. Is it possible my blood sugar levels crashed after a session in the gym?
I was doing legs if it matters. After my workout I came home and ate dinner as usual but started feeling funny. The corner of my left sphere of vision was fuzzy and bright, but I thought nothing of it and decided to lay in bed until it passed but it didn't. The fuzziness spread to both my eyes and then the ringing in my ears began, and I immediarey remembered the only other time this happened before. I pounded down a few bite sized chocolate bars and within 10 minutes I was back to normal.
I only ask because when this last happened I was on the subway and my vision went completely dark, all I could hear was an extremely loud ringing in my ears, and my knees began buckling. I was swaying like a baboon holding onto the bars for dear life and the two times I managed to slightly recover I had very narrow purple vision. this happened maybe 8 months prior to yesterday's event.
Could it just have been an anomaly?
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I've struggled with this on and off as well over the years... the best thing I've found (provided you're not on a cut) is to eat your sugar beforehand, not after. Maybe even a little after if you feel like you need it. Once your sugar gets too low, you get all those horrible sides and it can take several hours to fully recover even if you are eating handfuls of sugar.
I'll start to get shaky, then irritable, but when the sweats start I know I'm done for. If I don't have candy or something sweet I run the risk of passing out (never done that yet thank god) but I've felt myself come close.
Try a hershey's bar or a brownie an hour before your workout and chances are you'll not ever have this problem again. Not sure how this would fly on a cut, but I'm always fairly lean and have never had to do one. Maybe some of the other guys would have some input on this.
You're not using pre-workout insulin are you?
No, and I don't plan on ever touching insulin.
AnonAre you on cycle or pct?
I am on cycle.
My first post!!! I've had low blood sugar for about 10 years now. I have experimented with food and diet to control it. I have found that the only sure way to stop the sudden drop in blood sugar is to not eat sugar or bread. So if you get up and eat a sugary substance, the moment your body gets stressed (lifting, your significant other complaining, your boss riding you, etc) your body either burns through the sugar or pumps so much insulin out that it drops your sugar level like a hammer!!! But if you don't put the sugar in your body, your body reacts as it should normally and you shouldn't get the sugar drop. I don't understand the science behind it but that is how I avoid the drop. I should note that the way you describe the drop is not in line with how I experience it. Mine is more a feeling of passing out, hard to think, cold sweats, and a general feeling of absolutely horrible discomfort. What you describe is more to what I had when I would run about 4 miles on a hot day and dehydrate myself. It would induce a stress headache with vision problems (almost like a digital tear in my vision) and I would lose vision on one side followed by the worst headache imaginable for hours. (I edited to add this part) - another time that my blood sugar drops is if I am on testosterone and the estrogen starts climbing, my blood sugar gets out of control!!! That is the first thing I notice when it starts climbing!!!
Thank you for your post, I appreciate you sharing your experience. My symptoms were similar to yours regarding the cold sweats, and the feeling of passing out (I didn't let it progress that far the second time). I didnt get a headache either episode, and my vision problems went away after eatings sugary snacks, within 10 minutes at most.
I don't believe it to be a result of estrogen, as mine is under control. I contacted a doctor regarding this and the most likely cause was an abnormal drop in blood sugar levels, which can happen time to time based on various causes I was told.
I carry sugary snacks at all times now, in case of emergency. I also advise anyone who has a similar experience to do the same, and not to panic. I panicked the first time and it completely exacerbated my problems... The second time I was calm, realized what was going on, and handled the situation in a manner that I believe helped alleviate the issue quicker.
i've had hypoglycemia for many years and i've never happen to me what you experienced especially to the level of vision blacking so you may wanna get to a dr.
in the meantime carry orange or apple juice with you because you could go into a hypoglycemic coma if yr blood sugar drops too low....and absolutely training on an empty stomach if you have hypoglycemia can cause very low glucose levels...i train on a food clock and if i know there will be too long of a time where i cant get food in me i bring an apple or banana to hold me over....get yr insulin levels checked too....low blood sugar is no joke
I appreciate your comment. (And all your comments) I will be buying a monitor this weekend as advised, and carry Mars bars (my favorite) with me at all times. I am looking to find an inexpensive clinic that will try and narrow the problem down and work with me to figure this out, whether it is hypoglycemia or just anomalies.
I have had the same thing a few times, usually after a tough workout like legs. I just determined on my own that I have hypoglycemic tendencies and plan accordingly. I always make sure I have carbs after I train. If you say you were fine after eating the chocolate, I'm sure its the same thing.
I will definitely bring this up during a visit. Hopefully I can get in to my SO doc's office, instead of waiting for my employer to put together an insurance package for me. Either way I will definitely bring it to their attention. I'm going to carry a few bite size candies with me wherever I go just in case.
AnonEver had any concussions or serious head injuries? What you are describing sounds similar to me, I was diagnosed with traumatic brain injury because of my injuries. Do you get migraines ever? I would get to a doctor bro you never know what could be going on but its not something to be taken lightly.
I've never had a concussion or head injury. I do get migraines, but they are genetic (both my parents are on high doses of sumatriptan). I havent had a migraine in three or four months though.
Whats your body fat%? Sounds like you are really scared about both incidents. Do you smoke cigarettes? Do you have any allergies to any foods or drugs? Do you cycle steroids? Are you on cycle, currently? Do you take medications for anything? Better yet, can you provide a thorough history of your diet and lifestyle? Thanks.
I'm not easily scared, you really can't be when you do the things we do... Even though I'm a complete novice compared to the champs here. What scares me is I haven't been able to pinpoint it to a specific cause, and the closest I got the first time it happened was my Doc saying I shouldn't skip breakfast. (Ya don't say).
I used to smoke cigarettes, but not heavily (1 a day, sometimes 2 - still counts though) but lately my significant other has been weaning me off as she got me a vaporizer and 3mg nicotine juices. And I don't have any allergies to foods or drugs... Except benzocaine I guess.
Won't let me edit my post?? I am currently on cycle, straight Test at 1g per week (which might seem high I suppose, but I unfortunatey don't react much at lower doses). I'm doing a bulking oriented diet currently and the majority of my food includes 80/20 beef, and pasta - I'd say around 85% of my meals. My BF percentage is in the low to mid 20s, but I can't give you an accurate % as I've not been to the doctor since my insurance was terminated.
Switch to complex carbs. Whole wheat pasta, beans etc. Caffeine in your pre workout drink can do it too. crashed blood sugar will also give you the shakes and you will feel cold.
I would get to a doc by any means. Your stuff sounds more like high blood pressure.
I do consume complex carbs, and I don't have a pre workout drink. I did feel cold, and I managed to get enough Mars bars in me to make the symptoms go away. I must've not stated clearly enough, and I apologize for this. When this occurred the first time I was shaking and swaying uncontrollably on the subway, which was extremely crowded. When I came to myself, I had a three foot radius clear around me.
I appreciate your advice and have spoken with a doctor, and they do believe it could be a hypoglycemic episode. I was told to come in immediately if it happened again and we will have a full test done to figure what it was.
AnonJust wondering why you are bulking with such a high bf%? Not saying this is the cause but it probably doesnt help either. How many cycles have you run being only 24years old?
Trying to hit a target weight before I begin leaning out. I've done six cycles total (while the vets may frown upon it at such a young age -I did read the posts when I signed up and I have been lectured before by vets I know- I did it for athletics) and unfortunately before that I messed with PHs with peers. The same vets that lectured me got me off the PHs and monitored my first cycles, teaching me along the way. I do have somewhat low levels of natura test production, but not low enough to be "diagnosed" with low T as the doctor last put it.
AnonShit, ok. Well everything on here is just gonna be speculative until you can see a doctor. I know that might be tough for you right now but you sound pretty concerned so im sure there's a way to get professional medical help. Even a community health center might offer some low cost options. It might be nothing bro but until you safely rule that out you wont know if its something serious. And by then it might be too late.
Not trying to scare you, but if you dont got your health you dont got shit so how much is it really worth to you?
I totally get that and agree. I'll have to sit and talk with my employer and see what he can do for me regarding insurance. Until then I might ask my SO to call her doctor whom she has a good relationship with and maybe she will agree to have me come in and bill me at a non-insured cost. I think even then at best it'll still be speculation on the docs part as this stuff doesn't occur often enough I guess
I smoked a vapor pen for a little while before it broke. I am glad it did break. There are too many problems just waiting to happen with the.nicotine, veg. glycerin, etc. It had my lungs really aching....maybe causing pleural plaque....idk....
Interesting. I'm not saying it's a safe alternative, but it's definitely better for me than dunhills. I'm hoping to move off of nicotine completely and get no nicotine gels in the next two to three weeks.
RustyhookerTwo different but similar events? One just riding subway?
Shit I should've added in that I did skip breakfast that morning as I was running late for work, figuring I'd just buy breakfast once work was underway. The problem with this issue is that it could be a number of things, ie. Dehydration, lack of nutrition, etc. But I was fully hydrated and I ate a meal too.
FWIW, fathers side of the family did have a long line of diabetic members, but I haven't been diagnosed with it.
I'm not trying to fear monger here, I just don't like not knowing what the hell happened you know what I mean? I like knowingn that my body has things happen because of cause A or B.
RustyhookerSo has ya below with low sugar. I get the shakes if I get low. Not diabetic but food is key.
Anything with visual could be a dozen different things. Neuro, heart, food, diabetes, vaso, hyperventilate...bleh bleh. Check with your Dr. Many Easy things it could be. Always best to cover bases imo.
Seems to be the general consensus in this thread, and I guess I will have no choice but to get a doc to check it out.
Right...u never know what it could be. Can you see a doctor?
I'm currently not on an insurance plan, so this would be difficult unless it became a chronic problem.
usually the patients we run on with low bgl. have a are cold, confused, dizzy with pale skin. I would get a monitor an check there like 30 bucks you don't want to tank your sugar your brain needs sugar as much as oxygen
I will definitely get a monitor. Thank you.