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Any tips for remembering to snack?

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nathannathaniel

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Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
I am a 58 year old working guy with Type 2. I usually eat breakfast at 6AM-6:15AM, and I have found that my correct snack time is about 3 hours later, 9AM-9:30AM, but because I am busy working I forget to eat. Yesterday I had this happen, and around 10:15, I suddenly felt very weak and dizzy. BS was 3.2, so I guzzled a Coke, and then ate a bit of protein.

I was fine, but I hate continually going through this stress which is caused solely by my failure to feel hungry or remember that a snack is required.

Do any of you have any tips that might help me, considering the odd times I usually eat and the fact that there are no cues for me to follow (i.e. no co-workers pulling out their lunchpails)?
 
Why do you need to snack at those times Nathan, if you don't feel hungry? What are your blood sugar levels at when you feel low?
 
If you are getting hypos you are either restricting your diet too much or your medicine needs adjusting! Did you/do you have breakfast before you start work? What is your waking BG reading?
 
Hello Nathannathaniel, I was only diagnosed 3 months ago but suffered hypos a number of times. Same as you - early breakfast and around 3+ hours later weak legs. My DN took me off Gliclazide (but kept the metformin) and hey presto! no more hypos!
So I would advise a trip to the docs as it may well be the Rapaglinide causing them.
 
In the meantime before seeing your GP, do you have a digital watch with an alarm you can set for the appropriate time? That or a mobile phone with alarm feature on it? Might be worth trying and keeping a little snack in your pocket.
 
Tina63 said:
In the meantime before seeing your GP, do you have a digital watch with an alarm you can set for the appropriate time? That or a mobile phone with alarm feature on it? Might be worth trying and keeping a little snack in your pocket.
Click to expand...

Thats a good reply, just what i would of suggested 🙂
 
Vicsetter said:
If you are getting hypos you are either restricting your diet too much or your medicine needs adjusting! Did you/do you have breakfast before you start work? What is your waking BG reading?
Click to expand...

My average waking reading is 6.9 (although it can range from 5.5 - 8.0). I always eat a breakfast with a mix of carbs and proteins that adds up to about 30g of carbs on average. After one hour, my reading is usually about 10-11. After 2 hours, my reading is about 8. After 3 hours my reading is about 5-5.5. Then my readings continue to fall, so that by the time 3 1/2 hours have passed, it is 4.5 and falling fast. This is when I usually get hypo symptoms.

I am not hungry because my protein/carb breakfast has satisfied my hunger and "stuck to my ribs," so the first cue I get is hypo symptoms, not hunger.

*IF* I remember to eat at the right times (like yesterday), my readings (after the post-breakfast spike) never go over 8.5 during the remainder of the day, and do not fall below 5. I feel this is excellent... am I mistaken?

So my conclusion is that the Repaglinide is not the issue, but my eating habits. If I need to go back to my diabetes specialist, I will, but I'm thinking this is an issue more to do with my habits than the medication.

(My last A1c was 6.4, and based on my recent history, the next A1c will be lower.)
 
JohnCo said:
Hello Nathannathaniel, I was only diagnosed 3 months ago but suffered hypos a number of times. Same as you - early breakfast and around 3+ hours later weak legs. My DN took me off Gliclazide (but kept the metformin) and hey presto! no more hypos!
So I would advise a trip to the docs as it may well be the Rapaglinide causing them.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I definitely need more than Metformin. Metformin alone does nothing for me at all. I was on Gliburide briefly, but my doctor swapped me to Repaglinide and Metformin because of the work schedule and uneven eating in my life. Repaglinide is a medication regulated by the user. At breakfast I always take the maximum repaglinide (4mg) and metformin (1000mg), but the rest of the day, I self-regulate repaglinide according to what I am eating at that time. Usually at noon, I take 2mg with 500mg Metformin and at supper I take 3mg with 1000 metformin.

Last evening we went for Indian buffet, and with 3mg+1000mg, my blood peaked at 8.2 and stayed there for 2 hours, then dropped back to 6.9 by bedtime.
 
Nathaniel - reminder to eat

Hi, Tina63 said much the same as I was going to! I have been type 1 for 28 years and only just recently have been having bad hypos, a lot to do with my lack of hunger -- basically, I just don't think about eating! I know that's not your problem, but I do understand. When I saw my doctor last week, who knows fully how I feel about food - it's low down on my list of priorities - which I realise is crazy when you have our problem, but sometimes just the thought of food makes me feel sick. In fact two nights ago I had to get up at 2.30 in the morning and I was physically sick. Sorry, I'm going on a bit, and it's not answering you question. Getting back to my doctor, she suggested I set various alarms on my phone through the day, which would remind me to eat. Not necessarily the best for me under the circumstances, but I definitely think it would help you. Good luck!
 
As I do a fair ammount of computer work, I set a reminder on my out look to take things like pills after breakfast and lunch. WOuld that work for you? Or leave your snack where you can see it but it wont interfere with work or anything? Lots of people set reminders on their mobile phones.
 
Caroline said:
As I do a fair ammount of computer work, I set a reminder on my out look to take things like pills after breakfast and lunch. WOuld that work for you? Or leave your snack where you can see it but it wont interfere with work or anything? Lots of people set reminders on their mobile phones.
Click to expand...

I use reminders on my mobile phone for other things, so I think I'll try this suggestion. Thanks.
 
That's a good temporary solution but as other people have alluded to, you shouldn't really need to snack to manage your diabetes. You should definitely have your medication reviewed as if you keep having snacks, you'll just put on weight.
 
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