[LMSTUCK]

I was just wondering, how does everyone treat there low blood sugars? What do you eat/drink? How long does it typically take for you to come back to normal range? I am having a problem because I drop to about 40, drink a glass of juice (usually about 2 servings according to nutritional facts) and wait 20-30 minutes and I'm only slightly higher. So I eat or drink more and then it shoots up to between 200-300.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

[Subby]

I use juice, it works well for me. But does it work well for you? I'm not sure it sounds like it does.

Other things I use is glucodin, both glucose tablets and powders.

Unless a very mild hypo, I take exactly 15g of carbs, this will raise me by about 3 mmol/l typically. Using the right hypo fixes, (food that works fast for my body) I will start feeling better typically in 2 minutes. The wrong fixes, and it either takes a very long time or just doesn't combat the insulin quickly or effectively enough- or is delayed and causes big highs later.

I use the 15 15 15 rule - take 15g carbs, wait 15 min, test, if still low, take another 15g carbs, test again in 15 minutes... until gently stabilised. If I try and wing it instead on both amount and timing, I'll go high every time, in the end.

I'd try different food options, in your shoes, to get faster response with smaller amount. Look into solidifying the amount your hypo fix is, and think about something like the 15 approach, it really helps avoid those highs by overcompensating in ignorance/frustration. I also wonder if your lows are especially severe - perhaps incorrect basal or I:C ratios?

Yep, thats some dense feedback there, but I guess I'll just throw it out there, take it or leave it

[jenb]

If I'm in the 40's (pretty rare now) I do one and a half 4 gram glucose tablets and test again in 15 minutes. If I need additional carbs I just eat a little fruit. In the 50's I try the fruit first. Knowing that 1 gram of carb raises my BG level by 6 to 9 points has really been helpful in avoiding the yoyo effect of overcorrecting for the low and then fighting a high.

Of course there have been a few times when I bottomed out in the high 30's and had my adrenal system go into overdrive. Downed a too many glucose tabs and scarfed a bunch of crackers too - all pretty much on autopilot. Spent hours afterward fighting my way down from the ensuing high.

Jen

[DanG]

Originally Posted by LMSTUCK

I am having a problem because I drop to about 40, drink a glass of juice (usually about 2 servings according to nutritional facts) and wait 20-30 minutes and I'm only slightly higher. So I eat or drink more and then it shoots up to between 200-300.

I would say a simple fix for your situation - which sounds similar to my situation a while back - is to not eat the second helping of juice. Juice is quite tasty, I think, but difficult to work off.

Another thing to consider is whether the 40 is due to lantus or humalog. A lantus induced 40 reading is quite vicious in my experience - I avoid lantus low like the plague - a lantus 40 makes me coherent, but totally non functional. I have lowered my lantus intake to the point where it does not send me low anymore. Perhaps you are riding lantus down to 40? If that is a possibility, test and be careful and watch your blood sugar to try to determine if lantus is sending you to 40. The lantus low is hard to get out from. A humalog 40 is quite easy to get out from under - half a glass of juice and I am at least sane, and then I see if need to eat more.

[kgm0612]

I usually treat a low by eating a couple Starburst fruit chews. Each one contains 4g of carbs and will raise my BS about 20 points for each one I eat. I drink juice as an alternative.

Karen

[jimhuck]

Bernstein recommends sticking to glucose tablets for low BG. His reasoning is that it is a very precise method that works quickly and has minimal "after effect." Since Juice has fructose, it takes your body a little longer to completely digest it.

I think the general rule is 15 Grams of glucose, then wait 15 minutes and test again. Repeat if necessary.

When I have low BG, I want to eat everything. I use just glucose now...works pretty well.

[jenb]

Originally Posted by jimhuck

I think the general rule is 15 Grams of glucose, then wait 15 minutes and test again. Repeat if necessary.

I've never followed the 15 gram "rule" - that would take me up between 90 and 140 points. I use just enough glucose to get me into my target range of 85 - 100. As I stated in an earlier response on this thread, knowing how much a gram of carb increases your BG (6 to 9 points in my case) allows you to correct into your target range; It helps avoid the yoyo effect of over-correcting. As always, of course, YMMV .

Jen

[dme100]

He asked me that question a few weeks ago, I said the usual OJ, or Candy..he said I'd wake up in the ambulance using that treatment. (too slow)
He wants me to have access at all times to those little Juice Box drinks. He suggests Hi-C berry or grape, its almost pure liquid sugar, and it will hit the system fast.
David

[DanG]

Originally Posted by dme100

He wants me to have access at all times to those little Juice Box drinks. He suggests Hi-C berry or grape, its almost pure liquid sugar, and it will hit the system fast.

Pure grape juice is very good in terms of delivering sugar.
Carry a small can of Welchs grape juice - I always have in a drawer at work.

[Subby]

Originally Posted by dme100

He asked me that question a few weeks ago, I said the usual OJ, or Candy..he said I'd wake up in the ambulance using that treatment. (too slow)
He wants me to have access at all times to those little Juice Box drinks. He suggests Hi-C berry or grape, its almost pure liquid sugar, and it will hit the system fast.
David

Is this dramatic assertion backed up by your testing experience?

Different foods work at different rates for different people.

Just an example. Glucose power in water, a sugared box, and tropical non-sugared juice all work at a very similar speed for me.

[Lizzie G]

i generally take 2 4g glucose tablets; wait 5 minutes until my thoughts are collected, then work out whether this is a 'timing' issue or whether i miscalculated carbs and have too much bolus on board (easier with pump). if it looks like it might be the basal (less common now im pumping but it still happens for various reasons on occasion) I will adjust my basal setting as well as treating the symptoms.