How do you take advantage of your lows?

[Uelrindru]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[princesslinda]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[imac]

It is the perfect excuse to eat some sweet biscuits.

[GeishaGirl]

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]

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.

[Josselyn]

I'm a Type 2 on 1000 mg of Metformin per day...fortunately/unfortunately, I never get low enough to worry about it.

However, since we're daydreaming here, I miss Coca Cola terribly...and grape juice...and will accept no substitute. I bite the bullet on that one. But that might have been my choice with a low...

[Subby]

I'm a Type 2 on 1000 mg of Metformin per day...fortunately/unfortunately, I never get low enough to worry about it.

I'd be emphasising the "fortunate" aspect. Treating lows usually means being very strict and controlled, in very small portions. The mind is flailing - either the last thing on my mind is food - or if it is, it's an unreasonable, manic desire to eat the worst things or eat everything, as your central nervous system starts shutting down and is getting desperate for survival. I say "usually" strict and small, because that's how many people find that the fastest carbs rise their BGs - in very small amounts. Yes, people do use it as an excuse to have a binge of "forbidden things" - but may one day discover this just plain does not work for glycemic control. Chances are if they are problem foods for them (addictive) they are not stopping at the required amount - or are, and are actually just torturing themselves with reawakening rampant cravings.

Do you really think you could take 3 or 4 mouthfuls of Coke and be satisfied? Would the re-emerged cravings be worth it?

[rak1978]

Normally, I eat 1-3 glucose tablets and then a well balanced snack if needed.
HOWEVER, the best "treatment" I ever enjoyed for a low was when I first started my "d" journey. It was a perfect slice of homemade fudgy chocolate/chocolate chip cake.

[musique913]

Had a low today and I just ate some cherry tomatoes and some cheese..lol.

I was fine. I can't go into the bad food or too much sugar, my fragile good numbers are too important! I'm back up to 86 now though.:)

[matingara]

i find the perfect antidote to a low is a tootsie roll pop!

today after some gardening i hit 45 (2.5) and i knew i was getting low.

15 minutes and one tootsie roll pop later i was a lovely high 81!!!

:)

-- Joel.

[ShottleBop]

I'm a Type 2 on 1000 mg of Metformin per day...fortunately/unfortunately, I never get low enough to worry about it.

However, since we're daydreaming here, I miss Coca Cola terribly...and grape juice...and will accept no substitute. I bite the bullet on that one. But that might have been my choice with a low...

Pshaw, I drink grape juice almost every night.



(Of course, it's fermented . . . )

[dbaratta]

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?

Lows are not something you want to "take advantage" of, they are dangerous, or they can be. Lows are something you don't want so just do what you need to remain in normal range. (my opinion)

When I go low I drink juice or milk if it is available, I steer clear of sugar.

[e||ement]

oooh if i'm in the 2s, i eat glucose tabs which i find to be gross but they do the trick nicely.

if i'm in the 3s...then i'll usually have something like a cracker with honey, or a few sip of juice, or a couple of skittles.

the hard part IS knowing when to stop though...especially if you get the hypo munchies like me.

[Subby]

Contrary to logic perhaps, the best thing I find to have around apart from the obligatory source of fast but not too exciting or craving inducing carbs, is a good supply of enjoyable snacking non-carbs, for the very reason of placating my hypo hunger, without lining up a major hyperglycemic episode.

Sometimes, especially if one is on insulin, you might have a very strong hypo and the need to eat is exceptionally strong, and the usual restraint easily goes out the door. An example might be absentmindedly bolusing twice, something I'm sure I've done a couple of times over the years. If during a low, a compulsion to eat a decent amount of fast carbs hunts me down like a wild bear, I generally listen to this and allow it to happen - I'd rather go high later than unconscious now. Still, it's something to be honest with yourself about, have the finger on the pulse as to whether you are really facing a precipice of trouble that calls for emergency "stuffing", or not. I have to say the pump reduced those nasty hypos by about 80%, for me.

[networkguy]

Lows are not something you want to "take advantage" of, they are dangerous, or they can be. Lows are something you don't want so just do what you need to remain in normal range. (my opinion)

When I go low I drink juice or milk if it is available, I steer clear of sugar.

Yep! Lows can kill you now, highs can kill you later ;)

Lows piss me off truth be told. IMHO its carbs I really didnt plan on eating. But I use OJ or soda for mine.

[TommyC1]

Lows are not something you want to "take advantage" of, they are dangerous, or they can be. Lows are something you don't want so just do what you need to remain in normal range. (my opinion)

When I go low I drink juice or milk if it is available, I steer clear of sugar.

Yes but at least for me, lows happen. They are a fact of life.
My problem quite often is not eating too much and running high as a result. So I prefer to eat one thing with a known carb count.
For me that quite often turns out to be a Hershy bar with almonds because, they stock them in the candy machine near my shop, they are 21 grams of carbs (raise me roughly 80 points), and to the OP's question they're YUMMY!
Yeah, my puritan ancestors would be shocked. Pity for them.:T