Deadlifts, Hypos and Chaos: Chloe’s Gym Hypo Nightmare with T1D (Listener Story)

When Gym Sessions Turn into Hypo Sessions

Table of Contents

If you’ve got Type 1 Diabetes, you’ll know one simple truth: hypos love drama.
They’ll never creep in quietly while you’re at home with a cuppa. Oh no. They wait until the worst possible time — first dates, work meetings, nights out, and in Chloe’s case… mid-deadlift in a packed Manchester gym.

In this week’s We Are T1D episode, Mike and Jack break down Chloe’s story of blood sugar mayhem in the weight room. From shaky knees to panicked carb grabs, it’s the ultimate example of Hypos and Chaos.

Chloe’s Hypo in the Gym

Chloe walked into the gym ready to smash her PBs. She’d prepped like a pro: tested her sugars, fuelled up, packed her supplies. Nothing could go wrong, right?

Except diabetes had other plans.

Halfway through her deadlift set, the hypo crept in fast.
One second she was gripping the bar, the next she was lightheaded, legs like jelly, trying to figure out why her body wasn’t cooperating. Cue the chaos: rushing for carbs, fumbling with a Lucozade bottle, and that awkward moment of trying not to pass out in front of the mirror squad.

And yet — as Mike & Jack laugh through in the episode — Chloe handled it like a legend. Because let’s face it, T1D warriors don’t get the choice to tap out.

Listen to Chloe’s Story

Why the Gym Triggers Hypos

Hypos in the gym aren’t rare. In fact, they’re kind of predictable — even if they feel like they strike out of nowhere. Here’s why:

Big lifts = big glucose use. Moves like deadlifts and squats demand a lot of energy, fast.
Adrenaline plays tricks. At first, it can spike your sugars. But later? Crash city.
Delayed hypos. Blood sugar can drop hours after a session — sometimes while you’re eating dinner, sometimes while you’re asleep.
Unpredictability factor. Two workouts that look identical on paper can send your sugars in totally different directions.

Basically: the gym is where Hypos and Chaos thrive.

Practical Tips for Avoiding Gym Hypos

Chloe’s story is funny in hindsight, but it’s also a great reminder to plan for the chaos. Here are some ways T1Ds can lower the odds of hitting the floor mid-deadlift:

1. Pre-Workout Check-In

Test before you start.
Aim for a safe range (your diabetes team can help with target numbers).
If you’re trending down — fuel first.

2. Fuel Strategically

Quick carbs for during the workout (jelly babies, glucose tabs, Lucozade).
Slower carbs before/after to help balance out.
Don’t overdo the insulin on your pre-workout meal.

3. CGM & Tech Hacks

Use CGM alerts to give you a head start.
Set your low alert slightly higher for workouts — so you catch drops before they’re chaos.
Smartwatches with vibration are a lifesaver in noisy gyms.

4. Adjust Your Plan

Lifting heavy? Expect faster drops.
Doing cardio? Pack double the snacks.
Sometimes you’ll need to tweak basal/bolus — talk to your care team about safe adjustments.

5. Don’t Be Shy About It

If you need to stop mid-set to treat a hypo, that’s not weakness — that’s survival.
Anyone giving side-eye can go lift somewhere else.

Hypo Awareness Resources

Want to dig deeper? These resources are gold:

Chloe’s Story = Everyone’s Story

What makes Chloe’s story so relatable is how normal it is. She did everything right, but diabetes still threw in some chaos. That’s the T1D life in a nutshell: unpredictable, exhausting, and occasionally hilarious.

Mike and Jack remind us that the best way to cope isn’t to chase perfection — it’s to share the chaos, laugh at the madness, and connect with others who get it.

Key Takeaways

Hypos and Chaos happen, especially in the gym.

Preparation lowers the risk, but nothing eliminates it.

Don’t lift without hypo supplies. Ever.

Sharing stories like Chloe’s makes T1D feel a little less heavy.

Join the Conversation

💬 Got your own Hypos and Chaos story? Share it with us — we might read it on the pod!

📩 Email: wearet1dpodcast@gmail.com
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