How do you take advantage of your lows?

Uelrindru · #1 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 12:35 PM

Since I got diagnosed I have been dropping weight like it's my job, as a result my BS has been much easier to control and I've started to get lows a lot more often. I always use them to eat things I wouldn't normally be able to eat like donuts and milk chocolate. How do you guys take advatage of your lows?

princesslinda · #2 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 12:50 PM

Are you a T1 or T2 diabetic? Are you on insulin or oral meds? How low are you going?

I'd think having donuts or chocolate milk would only cause your blood sugar to elevate significantly. Seems it would be better to have a few sips of orange juice than to overcorrect with sugar and go higher.

Uelrindru · #3 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 12:53 PM

T2 and it's usually one donut. I only do it when I'm 80 and I can feel it going lower... or the time when I tested and it was 60. That one was scary, when my BS starts dropping it's like my body wakes up and goes into overdrive. I just had it today and after a whole pack of m&ms I'm only at 108 and still shaking.

GretchO · #4 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 12:54 PM

Sorry to be a party pooper, but I found early on that doing that led to weight gain and chasing highs from eating too much (the roller coaster). In theory it would be great, but how much of a donut do you really need to eat to treat your low and will you stop at just that amount when you're hungry as **** and not thinking clearly? At this point in my D career, I want to treat my low and get back to feeling well again as quickly as possible and to prevent the low from getting worse without rebounding and going high. So I pretty much universally treat w/ glucose tabs or a juice box, or anything that will act quickly and I can easily portion control.

Abra · #5 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 12:57 PM

Just to add that 80 is not low, it's perfectly normal.

princesslinda · #6 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 01:00 PM

I'm not sure how long you've been diagnosed, or what meds you're on, but when newly diagnosed, your body gets used to the higher #s. When the #s start to normalize, you can feel low, even if you are within "normal" range, as it is low compared to the higher #s you've probably had for a long time. In time, you probably won't even notice an 80.

What meds are you taking? If its just metformin, you're unlikely to go really low. If you feel shaky, have a few nuts or a piece of cheese or something like that.

If you're on glyburide/glipizide or something such as that, you may need to have a few sips of juice to bring your blood sugar back to normal, as these meds can cause drops in blood sugar.

Uelrindru · #7 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 02:26 PM

I give up, I was trying to make a thread of fun stuff you can do when your body allows it since we can't eat whatever whenever anymore. Once again the world bests me trying to find fun in something, you win I quit.

princesslinda · #8 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 02:31 PM

No one is trying to take away your fun. We all understand how hard it is to have to give up foods we've enjoyed for years. You asked a question, we answered. We're were just trying to help, by sharing what works best for us.

BTW, congrats on your weight loss. That's something I struggle with daily, so I know how hard you've worked.

foxl · #9 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uelrindru

I give up, I was trying to make a thread of fun stuff you can do when your body allows it since we can't eat whatever whenever anymore. Once again the world bests me trying to find fun in something, you win I quit.

Sorry ... but it was the first thing I was told -- NO candy bars for lows -- the fat slows them down!

Uelrindru · #10 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 03:47 PM

O.o I never thought of that.... oh well I hate "normal" candy bars anyway... oiy, sorry to rage I've had a rough day and have been trying to wean myself down to normal lvls instead of shocking myself. My mom is a T1 and she is so bad with lows that she's gone unconcious and crashed her car so I know not to fool around. I try to keep around 90 (since that was what my doc told me was the lowest I should do) as well as I can and once I go to 89 I'm at 80 or less in minutes so I eat or I crash hard. The time before last when I tested 64 I was falling asleep at the wheel so it's above 90 whenever I can.

xMenace · #11 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 03:53 PM

Sugar is responsible for so much bad health that I don't consider it a treat. I did have a donut today for a low, but I swear I didn't enjoy it

Jan B · #12 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 05:09 PM

Lately, I enjoy some yummy orange juice if I'm low.

imac · #13 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 05:20 PM

It is the perfect excuse to eat some sweet biscuits.

GeishaGirl · #14 (**permalink**) 11-06-2009, 06:18 PM

I used to use it as an excuse to get candy, especially Skittles, but if I'm honestly low, I've already lost control and will eat the whole back and bungee back up to 208. I've learned to carry a large tub of glucose tabs with me (because fixing a low can take anywhere from 2 to 14 tabs!) and just eat those. It's easier and measured and I usually wind up around 130-140 by the time I stabilize.

Joeprep4820 · #15 (**permalink**) 11-06-2009, 06:24 PM

When I have lows, I usually eat a granola bar, or an 8 ounce glass of OJ or grapefruit juice, wait 15 minutes, test again. 15 carbs brings me up more than I usually expect, so both work great for me. I try not to eat anything that isn't in my diet when low, and whatever I do use to treat for my low, I subtract these calories and carbs from my next meal.