[turc1656]

Yes, but those people are taking it because they have a specific, immediate need to use the energy. Starches are quick energy, so it's fine for these people to use because it's being put to immediate use and will not end up sloshing around in their blood stream, raising their blood sugar. Also, because of the nature of what they do, these athletes almost certainty have a near-zero store of glucose in their bodies at any given time. The muscles and liver combined can store anywhere between 500 and 700 grams of glucose for immediate use in the average person. But these athletes are consistently using it up, thereby having the ability to consume these starches with no ill effects.

Personally, I've seen this in myself when doing strenuous physical labor on hot days - for example, doing yard work in 90 degree heat or moving lots of heavy boxes when helping someone move. On these days, I can consume quite literally anything I want and my blood sugar will not budge an inch (I regularly test myself even though I don't have diabetes). It's essentially impossible for me to crack 110 on those types of days even if I consume a gigantic soda, gatorade, etc, with a garbage meal. I've actually tested this theory several times on myself and it has consistently held true.