Glucose Assistance!

cigarman · #1 (**permalink**) 10-24-2008, 05:20 PM

Has any one here used or is using Glucose gels and/or tablets? I recently bought some as I have mild to severe Hypoglycemia; more often than liked. I purchased both the gel and orange flared tablets as heart burn with OJ is horrible for me. I've tried other methods like apple juice and soda, but sometimes at 2am soda is not the best tasting or settling for your stomach.

I have been using them for about three months now. I have also been charting my progress and how many mg I use to be OK. I have been finding out that the tablets (asside from being so freaking huge) are not consistant. For example; just last week while at work, I began to crash. I checked my self and was at 75...I took three 4g tablets of Glucose and within 20 minutes I was at 101mg/dL. This means it took 20 minutes to raise my blood glucose 26 grams with 12g of fast acting carbs. However, I took three, simply because a couple of weeks prior, I took the same dose when I was 48 and within 15 minutes or so I was at 90; at which time I took something to drink to help out. Any of you with more to share on this or reasons why this big variance, let me know. Thanks.

Kerstin · #2 (**permalink**) 10-24-2008, 05:40 PM

The glucotrol (glipizide) is probably what is making you go hypo. It does to me. I always carry glucose tablets (the chalky, orange tasting horse pills). I start off taking 3 and that usually brings me back up to over 90 within 20 minutes. A couple of times 3 has not been enough and I have had to take 1 or 2 more. There seems to be no explaination for this variance!

GretchO · #3 (**permalink**) 10-24-2008, 06:22 PM

Hi cigarman..i mainly use juice boxes (specifically Apple & Eve because you can buy cases of them at Sam's for $7ish). These are what I use if/when I go low at night...they're a bit easier to handle when half asleep than glucose tabs for me. And with a 3 going on 4 year old I'm pretty deft at getting the little straws out and jammed into the juice box quickly. I can't be much help with variance, though, as long as I'm not hypo and not above 120 15-20 minutes later I don't really pay much attention to the numbers.

VinceF · #4 (**permalink**) 10-24-2008, 07:03 PM

Sorry about chiming in on the type 2 thread. I use the tablets all the time. Glucose is the fastest absorbing so any urgent lows should be handled with glucose. There are many flavors available at wal-mart and several flavors at cosco (tropical fruit is my favorite). I don't tolerate the orange flavor very well. I buy them in a bottle of 100 and refill a single roll for easy transport.

Variance is caused by all sorts of things, how soon since your last meal? was it higher in fat? Your mood, your health, any infections, basically all sorts of things cause variance thats what's so frustrating about D. and once you think you have it figured out it changes.

The only thing that helps is experience. Hope this helped.

-Dave

Real4 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-24-2008, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cigarman

For example; just last week while at work, I began to crash. I checked my self and was at 75...I took three 4g tablets of Glucose and within 20 minutes I was at 101mg/dL. This means it took 20 minutes to raise my blood glucose 26 grams with 12g of fast acting carbs. However, I took three, simply because a couple of weeks prior, I took the same dose when I was 48 and within 15 minutes or so I was at 90; at which time I took something to drink to help out. Any of you with more to share on this or reasons why this big variance, let me know. Thanks.

The starting conditions are VERY much different. At 75 you are in normal range of values, at 48 some people would pass out. I don't thing anything valid can be concluded from your two examples.