Blood Sugar Bullsh*t: Carbs, CGM’s, AIC: Everything You Need to Know

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May 14, 2025

Dive into the fascinating world of blood sugar management for athletes! Discover why fluctuations are normal and the truth about Continuous Glucose Monitors. The hosts debunk myths about carbs and emphasize balance over restriction in your diet. Hear hilarious stories about the history of diabetes and what your oatmeal might be hiding. Plus, they explore the impacts of stress and sleep on blood sugar levels, reminding us that personalized nutrition is key—sometimes, your body knows better than the data!

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INSIGHT

Blood Sugar Fluctuations Are Normal

Blood sugar fluctuations are normal and expected after eating meals.
Negative terms like 'spikes' create unnecessary fear around normal body responses.

INSIGHT

Post-Exercise Blood Sugar Dynamics

Blood sugar can temporarily drop post-exercise but should stabilize and remain within a safe range.
Extremely low blood sugar levels post-exercise are undesirable.

ANECDOTE

Historical Diabetes Diagnoses

Early medical practitioners diagnosed diabetes by observing ants attracted to patients' urine.
In the Middle Ages, doctors tasted urine to check for sweetness as a diagnostic method.

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Are CGMs the new step counter—or a $200 anxiety machine? In this episode, Zoë and Kylee discuss blood sugar basics, why fluctuations are normal, and how endurance athletes can make sense of numbers like A1C and glucose spikes without spiraling into diet culture doom.

We break down:

Why blood sugar goes up (and why that’s not a bad thing)
What CGMs actually tell you (and what they don’t)
How stress, sleep, and undereating mess with your blood sugar
Common myths around “spiking,” bonking, and insulin
Whether high-carb fueling is risky or actually the point
Why your oatmeal might be lying to you
How to build more satisfying meals and snacks—without tracking every gram
And of course, the history of medical professionals tasting pee, becasue, of course.

We also unpack the growing trend of CGM use in healthy athletes, the risks of over-optimization, and what your doctor might be missing when they say “pre-diabetic.”

📚 References + Suggested Reading:

Use of Continuous Glucose Monitors by People Without Diabetes. Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology, 2024.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/19322968231189240
CGMs may overestimate blood sugar levels in healthy individuals. University of Bath, February 2025.
https://www.bath.ac.uk/announcements/ (Note: exact study not publicly linked; data referenced in news release)
Zeevi, D. et al. (2015). Personalized Nutrition by Prediction of Glycemic Responses. Cell.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2015.11.001
Banting, F. G. & Best, C. H. (1922). The Internal Secretion of the Pancreas. Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine.
Bernard, Claude. (1855). Lectures on the Physiology and Pathology of the Central Nervous System. Paris: Balliere. (For early glycogen/liver research.)
Rollo, J. (1798). Cases of the Diabetes Mellitus. London: C. Dilly.
SuperSapiens: https://www.supersapiens.com – Used for background on CGM marketing in sports.
Levels Health & Nutrisense – Company websites and marketing copy analyzed for cultural context and claims.
American Diabetes Association. (2024). Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes—2024.
https://diabetes.org
Joslin Diabetes Center. (n.d.). Understanding A1C and Diabetes.
https://www.joslin.org