i was diagnosed with hypo in the 6th grade. my parents were 70s health food nuts, so i immediately went on a zero sugar diet save for the occasional candy bar that i would sneak for myself. i played soccer all through my youth and never had an issue with exercise and my blood sugar.

after graduating highschool and thus moving out from under my parents' roof, my diet declined to include cokes, cakes, ice cream, etc. my hypo never reared it's ugly head in the ways everyone describes here on the forum, but it was still there. again, i could play basketball or soccer for hours on end or go for a 3 mile run and not have a problem with my hypoglycemia.

i always had a passion for playing basketball. it wasn't unusual to spend 3 or 4 hours non-stop on the court - game after game. i would be exhausted afterwards but again nothing unusual. come home, shower, eat a big lunch/dinner, relax and everything was fine.

then one day in my mid-20s, i noticed something while playing. it was towards the end of the session, one of those "c'mon. one more game. we need you." type games. when looked out into the distance, there was a blury spot in the center of my vision. not very big, but dead in the center of my vision. i kept playing and the blury spot grew. it came to cover up the entire right side of my right eye. i was effectively blinded by the "snow". it was like the stars you see sometimes if you stand up too fast.

the game was already almost over so i went through the motions until it ended. the drive home was difficult as i couldn't see out my right eye. it was completely clouded over with stars by now. i got home and rested on the couch. gradually the stars faded away, and everything seemed fine for about 20-30 minutes. then the pain set in.

the stars were in my right eye, but the severe pain in my brain was on the left side. it was a migraine, and it was so strong that the only thing i could do was lay down and fall asleep. this would be the first of what i call my "visual migraines".

ok, enough of the dramatic narrative.

here are the facts as i have come to figure them out over the years:

1. if i don't get eat steadily for at least 8 hours prior to exercising, i will get a visual migraine. if i plan on exercising at night (7p), i need a big breakfast, mid-morning snack, big lunch, afternoon snack and a big dinner at 5p.
2. after exercise, i have to load back up with a heavy meal just before bed and a HUGE breakfast the next morning. if i don't, it's a migraine before noon or just after.
3. there doesn't have to be exercise involved. if i don't get enough to eat throughout a day or from dinner over night to breakfast, i can get one.
4. early morning exercise (like basketball tournaments) is impossible for me.
5. the amount of stars i see equates to the strength of the migraine. some are managable while others put me to bed.
6. after the migraine, my brain is sore. any sudden movement or a sneeze, renders a hangover-like pain.

so my question to the forum is...

Is this hypoglycemia or something else like a glycogen problem?

john