I am not a diabetic, but I do struggle with regulating my blood sugar when on long runs. (I have issues outside of running too, of course, but I am able to regulate it with a good diet and exercise).

I have tried sports beans, gu, gatorade, etc on runs and they all launch my blood sugar through the sky. I can take one sport bean occasionally through a run but that is it. This, however, does not give me what I need to complete a longer run (~10 or more miles).

I’m going to duck and cover when saying this, because it seems to be contradictory of most advice out there. Lately I’ve been bringing a protein drink with me on my long runs and start drinking it about a third of the way in (I probably finish it a little over half way through). It is the only thing I’ve tried that has given me what I need to make it through long run and doesn’t send me into a sugar coma.

I’ve had success with eating a burrito (chipotle) the night before a long run or race and part of a burrito the morning of (an hour or so before) and a protein shake.

Anyone out there run long distances and struggle with their blood sugar? What do you do for food the night before a race, the morning of a race, and during a race?

Could I benefit from doing something differently?

I am not able to run fasted either, regardless of distance. I’ve tried grabbing a banana, yogurt, etc and all send my blood sugar out of whack during a run. My biggest concern, however, is longer distances.