March 7, 2007
Exercise and Sports, Meal Planning, Food and Diet
Question from Sebastopol, California, USA:
My 11-year-old daughter has MODY2. She is a level nine competitive gymnast and works out about 21 hours a week. Before competing in the floor exercise, the second event, she felt very nervous and felt sick to her stomach. Mid-way through her floor routine, she ran out of energy and had difficulties finishing her routine. After the routine, she had a very dry mouth and was very thirsty. We did not check her blood glucose before the competition, because it hasn’t been necessary in the past. What can she eat/drink before and during the competition to ensure she has enough energy?
Answer:
As long as blood sugar is in a good range, I would recommend a good source of carbohydrate (i.e., oatmeal or turkey sandwich on whole wheat or multigrain bread) prior to competition. A sit down meal two to three hours prior to the competition is a good guideline. This will give enough time for food to digest and provide energy to the working muscles. The closer to the competition, the smaller the meal and more readily the food should be able to digest. If little time is available, try 8 ounces of Gatorade.
RP
