When your blood sugar drops too low

[kmlpag]

As some of you may know from other posts, I have started eating low carb meals, checking my blood sugar, taking my medicine as directed etc. to try and get healthy. Well I started feeling shakey and my heart started beating fast and I started sweating. I know this is a sign of blood sugar being low so I checked it and it was 64! That is extremely low for me, as my numbers have been in the 300's. This was about a 1/2 hour after lunch. Ok, my questions is: Is it ok to eat a few pieces of candy to get it back up? I am at work and didn't have anything here so I went to the gas station (the only thing within a mile) and got some junior mints and good and Plentys. I ate about 6 junior mints (the mini ones) and started to feel better. I checked my sugar about 1/2 hour after eating the mints and it is 149. I am going to keep a box of them in my desk and I have some in my car if it happens again. I'm thinking if I keep on dieting and exercising like I am supposed to, I might have to have my meds adjusted. I stopped taking the Actos as of 2 days ago so I guess I will just have to log everything and talk to my doctor in June.
Thanks.

[Keezheekoni]

You should keep glucose tablets with you. You can buy them at any drug store, Wal-Mart, etc. I used to treat my lows with Skittles, each one is 1 gram of carb. Eat 15 of them, check your bg 15 minutes later. If it's above 70 then don't eat any more of them, just carry on as usual, unless it's bed time, then have a peanut butter sandwich.

[princesslinda]

Your Glyburide dose may need to be adjusted now that you're eating less carbs, as it can cause lows.

It is smart to keep something on hand to raise your blood sugars should the need arise. I usually have a cereal bar or protein shake in the car or my purse in case I need something while i'm out and about.

You might want to just keep a couple pieces of hard candy (like the peppermint ones restaurants give you) in your purse in case the need arises.

The few times i've been low, i've had to make myself not eat TOO MUCH of something sweet....otherwise you're going from low to high really fast. With your Junior mints, i'd eat a couple, wait a few minutes and test...if your still low, eat a couple more. I don't think you'd want an 80 point jump in just 1/2 hr like that.

[davef]

I have started keeping cartons of juice stashed in the car, office etc. just in case. I also bought the glucose tablets just in case.

[kmlpag]

The few times i've been low, i've had to make myself not eat TOO MUCH of something sweet....otherwise you're going from low to high really fast. With your Junior mints, i'd eat a couple, wait a few minutes and test...if your still low, eat a couple more. I don't think you'd want an 80 point jump in just 1/2 hr like that.

Linda, I probably panicked and ate too much. I didn't like the feeling I had being so low. I think I just wanted a quick fix. Next time it happens, I will eat just a few pieces. I have to remember that it can take 15 minutes to get in my system. Is that correct? I think that is what I was told.

[princesslinda]

That first "low" is a scary feeling, I know. From what i've heard other T1s (the "low-pros") say, you eat a little something, wait 15 minutes test, then determine if you need anything more.

You might ask your doc about decreasing the Glyburide if you continue to have more "normalized" blood sugars.

Sounds like you're doing well so far!

[MarcS]

I am in the process of lowering my doses as well, as my readings have now been between 65 - 94 in the mornings. I carry around Glucose Tablets every where I go, I have a bunch in my car, and in the office, and in my workout room. Have never felt weak enough yet to take them, but good to know they're there.

[shutterbug]

You definitely need to eat balanced meal. Low-carb is good but you have to make sure you do eat food that contains starch like potatoes, rice etc to keep your blood sugar in the correct range. If you go too low on carbs you might get that lows often. I feel shaky if I go below 80s :)

Its a good idea to carry some sweet stuff while you are on the move.

[Hammer]

I've seen the glucose tablets at the pharmacy, and I was wondering how they differ from sugar cubes? If you kept a small plastic bag of sugar cubes in your car/office, would that be cheaper and as effective as glucose tablets?

[Achilles]

I noticed that a couple of you (David and Shutterbug) replied and are on Metformin / diet / exercise. Does Metformin cause lows? I was told that this was very unlikely?

[princesslinda]

I noticed that a couple of you (David and Shutterbug) replied and are on Metformin / diet / exercise. Does Metformin cause lows? I was told that this was very unlikely?


I took metformin up until I started Byetta. I went a little low once (60's), but it was because I hadn't eaten and had gotten a lot more exercise than usual. Generally speaking, metformin shouldn't cause to you go low, as it helps your body use the insulin you are making and are resistant to rather than stimulation MORE insulin production as do the sulfonylureas (Glyburide/Glipizide).

Still, if you are newly diagnosed, used to higher numbers, more normal numbers can certainly feel like a "low" so its best to have something on hand in case that happens.

[Real4]

I've seen the glucose tablets at the pharmacy, and I was wondering how they differ from sugar cubes? If you kept a small plastic bag of sugar cubes in your car/office, would that be cheaper and as effective as glucose tablets?

Glucose is Glucose. A sugar cube is sucrose a different type of sugar, that needs more "processing" before it can be absorbed and used as glucose by the body. There are real advantages to using glucose; the major disadvantage is the cost. I keep both around, but use the glucose only in an emergency type situation. Otherwise, as when I am exercising, for example, I use candy.

[kmlpag]

What do the glucose tablets taste like?

[jacobsam622]

As some of you may know from other posts, I have started eating low carb meals, checking my blood sugar, taking my medicine as directed etc. to try and get healthy. Well I started feeling shakey and my heart started beating fast and I started sweating. I know this is a sign of blood sugar being low so I checked it and it was 64! That is extremely low for me, as my numbers have been in the 300's. This was about a 1/2 hour after lunch. Ok, my questions is: Is it ok to eat a few pieces of candy to get it back up? I am at work and didn't have anything here so I went to the gas station (the only thing within a mile) and got some junior mints and good and Plentys. I ate about 6 junior mints (the mini ones) and started to feel better. I checked my sugar about 1/2 hour after eating the mints and it is 149. I am going to keep a box of them in my desk and I have some in my car if it happens again. I'm thinking if I keep on dieting and exercising like I am supposed to, I might have to have my meds adjusted. I stopped taking the Actos as of 2 days ago so I guess I will just have to log everything and talk to my doctor in June.
Thanks. If your blood sugar dropped that much after eating lunch you may want to add some complex carbs to your meal i.e. brown rice, whole grain bread or pasta, etc. Only reson your blood sugar would drop after eating is your body did not get enough carbs.