| Sometimes people with hypoglycemia or "low blood | | | | the bars are packed before a marathon, with |
| sugar" are mistaken for drunks. This is because their | | | | marathon runners having a couple of beer to calm |
| reaction to sugar and alcohol can be very similar. The | | | | down. Many endurance athletes tend to be |
| high sugar content of some alcoholic drinks alone can | | | | hyperactive, high-strung people, who find that they |
| some people's blood sugar to drop so fast that they | | | | need a beer or two to calm down. |
| appear intoxicated. This is because over consumption | | | | Even on a hot day, a "barley sandwich" can take the |
| of sugar causes the pancreas to release insulin into | | | | edge off of the heat and have a calming effect. |
| the blood stream. | | | | Some people just get plain groggy and call it relaxing. |
| Because insulin has a much longer half-life (the time | | | | To counter this low-blood sugar effect, it is important |
| of a substance to reduce itself by half) than sugar, | | | | to eat something while drinking. That and some good |
| the insulin will remain longer in the blood than the | | | | company can accent the relaxing effect of alcohol. |
| sugar. This is why many people feel groggy or | | | | People get into trouble when they give the alcohol all |
| "dinner drunk" after a few drinks, a sweet snack or | | | | of the credit for making themselves feel better. |
| highly processed carbohydrate meal (like a milk shake | | | | Remember: If you are going to drink alcohol, EAT! |
| and French fries). Usually they do not feel very | | | | Hypoglycemia is often masked by several symptoms: |
| hungry and reach for another drink for a temporary | | | | The symptoms can vary depending on how low the |
| energy boost. They might even think that their "low | | | | blood sugar level drops. |
| fat" intake is doing them a favor. Hardly. The excess | | | | Mild hypoglycemia can cause nausea, nervous |
| sugar gets stored away in the form of body fat. | | | | feelings, cold and clammy skin, sweating, hunger and |
| (But that is another article.) | | | | rapid heartbeat. (I have felt this after instructing 3 |
| As alcohol provides a short sugar lift for some | | | | fitness classes and without eating for over 5 hours. It |
| people, there is a tendency to drink alcoholic drinks to | | | | was no fun at all.) |
| feel better. The relief is short-lived. In my early | | | | Moderate hypoglycemia often makes you feel |
| twenties, I used to go for a couple of brew after | | | | irritable, anxious, or confused. You may have blurred |
| kick-boxing practice. This was not the best idea. Even | | | | vision, feel unsteady, and have difficulty walking. |
| though it felt good and made for good conversation, | | | | Severe hypoglycemia can lead to loss of |
| the carbohydrates and electrolytes were pretty low | | | | consciousness, seizures, and coma-and it may be |
| in the beers. It also just made me more tired the | | | | fatal. |
| next day. | | | | This is why people with low blood sugar |
| None-the-less, some endurance athletes will have a | | | | (hypoglycemia) are often misjudged as just being |
| couple of beer the day before a race. One theory is | | | | drunk. |
| that the athlete is carbo-loading in preparation for the | | | | More details one how to lower your risk are covered |
| race. However, an old marathoner once told me that | | | | in Reduce Your Alcohol Craving. |