Hypoglycemia Unawareness or a Sweaty Fingertip?

When the alarm went off at 4:45 yesterday morning I wasn’t sure what was happening. It took me a couple of minutes to get myself out of bed. I wake up early most mornings but it’s never easy, and  Wednesdays are always the hardest (being the third consecutive running day of the week – then a break).

I got up, made myself a cup of coffee and checked my blood sugar which was a little higher than usual (184). I got dressed and prepared for my run – a 9 mile tempo at my half marathon pace (with a warm up and cool down, I would run a good 12.5 miles).

Being only  a week and a half away from my last half marathon of the season (my forth since August) and hoping to improve my time again, despite my morning daze, I pushed myself. At 5:30 I was out running towards the park. I started out slowly feeling sluggish and heavy. It took me half a mile to wake up and even then I still felt like there was no way I was going to run a 9 mile tempo at a pace of 7:15-7:30 minute mile (I ran my last half at a 7:30 pace).

After two miles I stopped to stretch, drink and check my blood sugar. It had dropped to 106. So like most mornings I had my first meal of the day – a GU gel. 

I waited a few minutes as if a bell or horn were about to go off and then realizing I was just wasting time I started my 9 mile tempo. I took off a little too fast but after a half a mile or so I got into a good steady pace of a little under 7:30.

I ran another three miles before stopping for water. I decided to check my blood sugar again. I pulled my glucometer out of my pack and checked. OMG 40!!! I couldn’t believe it.   “what the fuck?” I said out loud. About to panic I decided to check again.

I wiped my finger off well and tried again this time I got a reading of 106. I had another half a gel and continued.

I felt good and was able to increase my pace running the second half of my run at around a 7:20 pace. I stopped once more after 6 miles, and although my blood sugar was still 106, I didn’t take another gel thinking I didn’t have very long to go.

When I finished the tempo I felt great and much more confident about my upcoming race.

The lesson here is to double check before you assume you’re suffering from severe hypoglycemia unawareness!

Michael Aviad

Michael Aviad is co-founder of ASweetLife. He was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2002. Michael was born in Santa Barbara and grew up in Jerusalem. He studied law and after passing his bar exam went on to get an MBA with a major in finance. Michael worked for many years as an economist. He and his wife Jess, also a type 1 diabetic, have three sons. Michael loves to run and is always training for the next marathon.

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