Bloodsugar Bullsh*t: Carbs, Blood Sugar, A1C

Are CGMs the new step counter, or just a $200 anxiety machine? In this episode of Your Diet Sucks, Zoë and Kylee dive into blood sugar basics, why fluctuations are normal, and how endurance athletes and everyday fitness enthusiasts 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 always a bad thing), what CGMs actually measure, and how stress, sleep, and undereating can mess with your glucose. Along the way, we bust myths about “spiking,” bonking, insulin, and whether high-carb fueling is risky or exactly the point.

You’ll learn how to build more satisfying meals and snacks without tracking every gram, and yes, we dig into the bizarre history of medical professionals tasting pee to test sugar. Finally, we explore the growing trend of CGM use in healthy athletes, the risks of over-optimization, and what your doctor might be missing when they throw around the word “pre-diabetic.”

📚 References + Suggested Reading:

1. 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

2. 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)

3. Zeevi, D. et al. (2015). Personalized Nutrition by Prediction of Glycemic Responses. Cell.
   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2015.11.001

4. Banting, F. G. & Best, C. H. (1922). The Internal Secretion of the Pancreas. Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine.

5. Bernard, Claude. (1855). Lectures on the Physiology and Pathology of the Central Nervous System. Paris: Balliere. (For early glycogen/liver research.)

6. Rollo, J. (1798). Cases of the Diabetes Mellitus. London: C. Dilly.

7. SuperSapiens: – Used for background on CGM marketing in sports.

8. Levels Health & Nutrisense – Company websites and marketing copy analyzed for cultural context and claims.

9. American Diabetes Association. (2024). Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes—2024.

10. Joslin Diabetes Center. (n.d.). Understanding A1C and Diabetes.