Does dextrose do anything besides spike your insulin in post-workout shakes?

[JohnGafnea]

I'm diabetic, so obviously this wouldn't be the case with me. Does it server other functions as well?

[Matthew D]

yes, the insulin spike is used to drive protein into the muscle. YJ has a post on how it works on here somewhere, just do a search...

[JohnGafnea]

I know that's what the insulin spike is for, but since I "spike" my own insulin anyway, is there a point to taking dextrose?

[MushMouth]

It also replenishes muscle and liver glycogen.

[JohnGafnea]

Is that something normal slower acting GIs could not do? (I'm not being sarcastic, I really don't know :P)

[RaulJimenez]

Dextrose can also be used to load on creatine since it creates an insulin spike thus transporting creatine faster to the muscle cells.

[MushMouth]

Originally posted by JohnGafnea
Is that something normal slower acting GIs could not do? (I'm not being sarcastic, I really don't know :P)

No, slower gi can do the same thing, it just occurs at a different rate.

[Hal]

I don't think dextrose is of much use to you unless you drop low. However, after a hard workout your non-insulin dependant GLUTs (GLUT2? I forget...I'll look it up if you want) will suck up a good amount of the available blood sugar so you may want a quick acting sugar to keep you from dropping too low...but you know that already. You can spike whenever you want so I don't see a special reason to take extra dextrose, although an acute dextrose dose followed with a quick acting insulin theoretically could shuttle more into your muscle. I say theoretically because, as you know things don't always work the way one would think they would in your state.

[JohnGafnea]

Cool, thanks guys.

[JohnGafnea]

Originally posted by MushMouth


No, slower gi can do the same thing, it just occurs at a different rate.

Is this to say it's slower but equal? Like in 3 hours it will be the same either way?

[Sir Savage]

Originally posted by Hal
GLUTs (GLUT2? I forget...I'll look it up if you want)

GLUT-4.

You basically get a double-whammy in terms of recovery, after you workout, from GLUT-4, and the insulin spike, to restore glycogen and stimulate protein synthesis.

[Sir Savage]

Originally posted by JohnGafnea

Is this to say it's slower but equal? Like in 3 hours it will be the same either way?

No, not equal, because the "window of opportunity" slowly begins to close post-workout.

It would be better than nothing, though, and given your condition, may be the best option.

[JohnGafnea]

Ah, thanks.

[ironviking]

Diabetic here as well, I dropped the dextrose, it didn't do anything for me except made it harder to lose fat. I switched mainly to Low GI carbs and it has helped me cut up recently. Also it was hard to control BG levels afterward, I did dextrose for one month and my Hba1c was at 7 and I usually can keep it at about 5. Since I value my health more than bodybuilding I dropped most High GI carbs. Just something to think about.

Cheers