Hypo treatment

[Spozkins]

Probably been posted before what hypo treatments are people using that are healthy alternatives? The best I can think of is smoothie/juice (I know, not THAT healthy but better than lucozade) but then still going to get a load of cals too.

Is there a healthy option?

 

[MrDaibetes]

Some people use orange juice, I haven't but I have heard it works.

 

[helli]

When treating a hypo, the focus should be on getting fast acting carbs into you as quickly as you can. The healthiest thing is fixing the hypo quickly regardless of calories.
As I need to carry hypo treatments with me all the time, I have something that is easy to carry, doesn't go off, easy to measure (there's little worse than over treating a hypo) and something that no one else will take because they fancy a treat.
Because of the need to easily carry my hypo treatment, I do not use liquids. I use Lift (used to be called GlucoTabs). They come in tubes and big tubs. A few years ago, I bought a couple of tubes. Now I buy the big tubs in bulk from eBay and decant them into the tubes.

 

[Inka]

Probably been posted before what hypo treatments are people using that are healthy alternatives? The best I can think of is smoothie/juice (I know, not THAT healthy but better than lucozade) but then still going to get a load of cals too.

Is there a healthy option?

You don’t want healthy! You need quick! Dextro tabs or sugary Coke or jelly babies are best. Lucozade was great but they’ve changed the formula so I use Coke now. When I was in hospital a few years ago I was given Lucozade (before the revamp). It’s NOT unhealthy - it’s what you need.

That’s the whole point. A hypo needs glucose/sugar and fast concentrated glucose/sugar.

 

[rebrascora]

I often keep dried fruit to hand in the house and I will use that if I am going low or just dip slightly under 4, when it is a slow drift. Apricots and prunes work out about 5g carbs each, figs 7ish and pear halves about 8g
Jelly babies (x3) for proper hypos BG 3+ and Lift Glucose tabs (x3) for under 3.
The problem with a smoothie is that they don't keep well and making a fresh one when you are hypo is not the best idea... bit of a delay I think.

 

[Spozkins]

You don’t want healthy! You need quick! Dextro tabs or sugary Coke or jelly babies are best. Lucozade was great but they’ve changed the formula so I use Coke now. When I was in hospital a few years ago I was given Lucozade (before the revamp). It’s NOT unhealthy - it’s what you need.

That’s the whole point. A hypo needs glucose/sugar and fast concentrated glucose/sugar.

I know - and of course I'm not going to change to something slow acting I was just curious to see if there is something that IS healthy while being fast acting.

As my control isnt spot on I have to treat hypos more than I'd like and as they're often overnight something like lucozade which is full of caffeine isnt ideal because 1. I don't do well with caffeine and 2. No sleep will just have a knock on effect.

 

[Spozkins]

I cant eat jelly babies so guess its sticking with glucose tabs then. I thought they were probably the best but I really dislike eating them.

I know - being fussy about hypos seem silly, but I was just curious.

And thanks @rebfor the dried fruit advice - I've not really considered that before but will defo give that a try if need be.

 

[rebrascora]

I know exactly what you mean and i really resent having to eat glucose or sweets when I am low, especially as I was a sugar addict pre-diagnosis. I find orange juice just isn't convenient and there are times when just 1 or 2 jelly babies is enough so a whole (even small box) of orange juice would be too much and I hate waste more than I resent eating jelly babies! I have quite a fast digestive system so the dried fruit works OK for me but I always have proper treatment for proper hypos and keep the dried fruit for the grey area (3.6-4+), particularly when I am dropping slowly and since I generally eat low carb, I rarely get really rapid hypos. I do really enjoy my fried fruit and it is a treat for me whereas I now look at the JBs and Lift as medication.

 

[Inka]

I know - and of course I'm not going to change to something slow acting I was just curious to see if there is something that IS healthy while being fast acting.

As my control isnt spot on I have to treat hypos more than I'd like and as they're often overnight something like lucozade which is full of caffeine isnt ideal because 1. I don't do well with caffeine and 2. No sleep will just have a knock on effect.

I used to have an orange flavour Lucozade not Original, and that had minimal caffeine as I had it when I was pregnant, but, of course, they’ve messed up all the Lucozade now 🙄 I think Appletise might be ok because I remember someone mentioning it here but it was a while ago so you’d have to check they hadn’t reformulated it. It’s hard to find a full sugar fizzy drink now or even a full sugar squash.

There are GlucoShots but I think they’re a bit pricey. However you could maybe use them at night? The Dextro tablets are the nicest of the glucose tablets, I think, but it depends on the flavour. I got so sick of Lemon I can’t even eat one now so I stick with Tropical and Blackcurrant.

Another option I’ve used before is milk with a couple of teaspoons of sugar stirred in. I just put a minimal amount of milk in a mug eg 5cm and stir the sugar in. Very sweet but it works fast. However, hard to keep by your bed.

Fudge works quickly too. I know none of these are ‘healthier options’ but for hypos we need pure glucose or sugar. I consider those ‘healthy’ or even like a medicine when they’re needed, in the same way we might have a glucose drip in hospital or a saline drip. Both ‘sugar’ and salt are unhealthy in excess but sometimes can be lifesaving. It’s a matter of context.

For milder hypos or just to raise your sugars a bit, you can go for dried fruit like @rebrascora has suggested. I find dates good as they’re higher sugar, but figs and prunes are good too. You can also have fresh fruit like a small banana or half a mango, etc. Or even a yoghurt or a little bowl of granola.

 

[Ljc]

You are not being silly and no questions are silly either.
Just use whatever fast acting carb you have to hand and that is easy to carry when you are out .

Yesterday I had a hypo that just wouldn’t take the hint and go away .
For a good couple of hours or so I was injesting 4 or 5 dextrose tables every 15 minutes , once with a big swig of juice, I also had 150 mls if full sugar coke again with dextrose tabs.
Please Don't worry about healthy stuff for hypo’s. It needs to be dealt with fast else ........

 

[Paulbreen]

I would completely agree with the sentiment of all the replies so far, get fast acting into you for rapid hypo and slower acting for the slow start hypo, chocolate springs to mind.
Hypos don’t just make you feel c**p they interrupt your blood flow from your heart by a swirling effect disrupting the normal smooth blood flow and because of this they can also lead to strokes, they are a bit more dangerous than most of us think

 

[Inka]

I hadn’t heard that @Paulbreen but hypos are definitely serious. They can cause seizures and eye damage too - and brain damage. Horrible things!

 

[Paulbreen]

I was with my diabetes doctor last week, who is also a type one and he was kicking my ass a bit because I seem to get a mid afternoon hypo everyday, maybe down to 3.8 or so and he was explaining the physiological effects of having too many hypos, to be honest I don’t feel hypo until I get to about 3.2 but he says I should try and stay above 4.5, it was interesting to hear what is actually going on, it would connect with you said about brain damage Inka

 

[nonethewiser]

Hypos don’t just make you feel c**p they interrupt your blood flow from your heart by a swirling effect disrupting the normal smooth blood flow and because of this they can also lead to strokes, they are a bit more dangerous than most of us think

Seriously mate not heard that before, see why consultants get worried about amount of hypo's patients experience.

 

[Ljc]

That’s why we say they are a medical emergency.
Folks do die if they go too low .

 

[Spozkins]

I really do appreciate the urgency of hypos guys - I had truly terrible hypos as a child whereby I was hospitalised and lost consciousness/fitted a fair few times.

Please dont think I underestimate what a hypo actually is. I'm not asking so that I can faff bout and be healthy while I'm urgently needing glucose, but so that in foresight while I'm in my own home I can have to hand things that are fast acting and not full of nasties. If I need coke or lucozade or anything else I will use it, I would just like an option. In the same way you may by a certain flavoured glucose tablet or brand.

 

[Lisa66]

I totally get your question and sometimes I just fancy a change from jelly babies. If I’m home I might have a spoonful of marmalade, maybe on a half a biscuit (depending on levels and urgency) or a spoonful of honey.

 

[EllsBells]

I totally get your question and sometimes I just fancy a change from jelly babies. If I’m home I might have a spoonful of marmalade, maybe on a half a biscuit (depending on levels and urgency) or a spoonful of honey.

A lump or two of kendal mint cake?

 

[trophywench]

Spozkins - my diabetes control is not that 'near the edge' that whatever I grab when I'm hypo is going to make any difference whatsoever to my overall long term health. Blooming painful eating or drinking sugary stuff when your teeth are mega sensitive because of gum disease but there you go - into every life a little rain must fall OK, but frequent torrential rain ain't fun.

 

[Inka]

I really do appreciate the urgency of hypos guys - I had truly terrible hypos as a child whereby I was hospitalised and lost consciousness/fitted a fair few times.

Please dont think I underestimate what a hypo actually is. I'm not asking so that I can faff bout and be healthy while I'm urgently needing glucose, but so that in foresight while I'm in my own home I can have to hand things that are fast acting and not full of nasties. If I need coke or lucozade or anything else I will use it, I would just like an option. In the same way you may by a certain flavoured glucose tablet or brand.

I do understand. I hope I didn’t sound like I was lecturing you at all. For me, the least ‘nasty’ of the fast options are the Dextro tablets. They’ve not got much in at all except the glucose and Vitamin C too, I think. You can actually buy loose glucose powder, which I presume is even ‘purer’ but it would be a pain to spoon out while low. I use the Coke when it’s a proper hypo or I feel I’m dropping fast or am about to exercise. For nighttime, I have Dextro tablets by my bed along with a glass of water.

To make a change, I have various sweets like Haribo or chewy fruity ones, or After Eights, etc. I’ve used honey before too, and golden syrup.

For lows that aren’t really hypos, I tend to nibble whatever I have at hand - some chocolate, a flapjack, etc - but healthier options would be dried fruit and even things like those dried crunchy banana slices. I’ve also eaten normal flavoured yoghurt.

Healthwise apart from the worry of keeping my blood sugar in range, I worry more about the increased risk of heart disease than taking glucose tablets. Glucose is the body’s fuel after all.