Blood Sugar and Performance: Myths, Facts, and Fueling Strategies with Hayden James

In Episode 109 of the Eat for Endurance podcast, Hayden James, RDN CSSD CDCES of Satiate Nutrition joins me for a deep dive into blood sugar levels and athletic performance.Hayden is a sports dietitian, Certified Diabetes Care & Education Specialist, and the conference director for the inaugural 2025 Fuel Fest, an endurance and mountain sports nutrition conference for healthcare professionals. She's also an avid trail runner, climber, skier, and lifter based in Salt Lake City, Utah.Hayden and I discuss everything you should know about blood sugar levels as an athlete, including:Which foods and other factors cause blood sugar levels to increaseThe role of insulin in the bodyAcute vs chronic glucose elevationsWhy maintaining "normal" blood sugar levels is important to overall healthWhy a blood sugar spike in itself isn’t a bad thingHow to tell if you truly have low blood sugar, or if you're just hungryWhy simple sugars found in sports nutrition products are helpfulDifferent forms of simple sugars that you can use during exerciseThe importance of adequate carb intake for bone health and iron statusWhat might be causing your afternoon slump (hint: it's not the carbs)The use of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) in non-diabetic athletesWhy athletes should use caution with CGMs, and perhaps even avoid themWe also aim to clear up some of the confusion on this topic to encourage athletes to stop fearing and/or limiting carbs in their diet.Links & Announcements:Follow Hayden on InstagramWatch this episode on YouTubeJoin my new monthly membership service, Fuel for Life Crew, for just $30/monthCheck out my free nutrition downloadsFill out a new client inquiry form if you’re interested in 1:1 nutrition coachingSupport the podcast with my Skratch Labs affiliate code EATFORENDURANCE20 Join my Patreon community Get in touch at [email protected] – all information provided is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is in no way meant to replace individual medical and nutrition recommendationsWant to get in touch? Send Claire a message!Support the showThanks for listening! Follow me on Instagram and Facebook (@eatforendurance).