Another unfortunate case
Konrad C, Schupfer G, Wietlisbach M, Gerber H, (1998). Insulin as an anabolic: hypoglycemia in the bodybuilding world.
Anasthesiol Intensivmed Notfallmed Schmerzther. Jul;33(7):461-3.
"A 30-year old male presented with cerebral symptoms of hypoglycaemia. Directly before an international competition he tried to stimulate muscle growth by using the hypoglycaemic stimulus to the growth hormone. To achieve this he injected 70 IE of a short-acting insulin subcutaneously, resulting in severe hypoglycaemia. After the initial administration of intravenous glucose by the paramedics, he lost consciousness and showed signs of convulsions. After orotracheal intubation by an emergency physician, despite of ongoing infusion of glucose the blood glucose concentration remained low as measured in the out-of-hospital setting. Finally administration of additional glucose and glucagon in the intensive care unit was able to stabilize the metabolic system. In any case of severe hypoglycaemia, repetitive measurements of blood glucose even in the prehospital setting should be performed to detect the hypoglycaemia especially if athletes are concerned."
One thing is constant in these bodybuilding-related insulin horror stories. Both bodybuilders where trying to get a growth hormone spike from purposefully going hypoglycemic. Was this practice common at one point? It seems like madness to me.
