The Indiscriminate, Transcendental Low Blood Sugar

Photo Credit: Red Dirt Ruminations

Peace. Focus. Confidence. Ask a person with diabetes if those words are associated with low blood sugar. You’ll get a resounding no. If we look at it from the perspective of the brain’s energy needs in blood, 20 percent of each heart beat heads to that squishy mass. In that blood is energy in the form of sugar. Cut down the energy source to your brain and lose functioning power, like the ability to focus.

Science is wonderful. Yet, the phrase Albert Einstein is often credited with, Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted, applies here. Every so often, when my blood sugar dips below 80, I find a singular, transcendental focus. It’s almost like a state of meditation, comparable to the runner’s high. I feel like I can do anything. I can pause and feel peace. I can write. I sense what is important and what is not. Okay, I know, this is starting to get a little weird. To explain further, I’ll give an example.

Today I sat down to write a post about being single with diabetes. My mind would not work. Nothing. I looked at my CGM–83. This is the opposite of the before mentioned idea. Last week, I sat down at the same time of the day to write a post on cycling. It all clicked. Each thought I put to paper immediately gelled with the theme. I flowed. 30 minutes went by in a flash. What was my blood sugar then? 78.

I can’t say how many times I’ve experienced this. I know it happens though. And when it does occur, I embrace the hell out of it.

Disclaimer: Ryan is not encouraging anyone to see how often they can enter this state by inducing low blood sugars. Come on now.