Shopping, what is it with it and blood sugars

[Jon-Manchester]

I know it but it still catches me out
Today I checked my bs before going food shopping ~5.6 so I thought that was high enough so I didn’t need to worry, I get home and my bs is 3.3

it is weird, what is it with being in a shop that causes blood sugar to drop so much?
Is anyone else having this problem with shopping?

 

[Inka]

Yep, it’s definitely a thing. Shopping centres, supermarkets - all cause blood sugar to go down, sometimes to hypo levels. I ward it off by having a couple of glucose tablets before I go in. But long trips need lots of testing and added carbs often.

I think half of it is stress

 

[rebrascora]

Yes, I have been stuck in the supermarket car park a few times waiting for levels to come back up so that I can drive home with my shopping. I have no idea why wandering around the aisles is so draining on glucose levels, but it is.

 

[Kaylz]

My first ever hypo was in B&M, I wasn't long diagnosed and we went Christmas shopping, me, my mum, OH and MIL, arms full of stuff and was like "oh oh" flung my stuff at my mum and sat on a kick stool to test, I've never felt so embarrassed, staff and customers staring at me only one I've ever had in a shop though thankfully as wouldn't want to feel like that again! xx

 

[Jon-Manchester]

At least it isn’t just me then 🙂

I don’t get it though. Earlier in the day I had done 2 hour bike ride, really pushing my self and my bs never dropped below 4

I do 15-20 minutes walking and standing around in aisles of M&S and bam

 

[rebrascora]

Ah! In that case the bike ride is most likely the answer then.
Exercise has an affect over the next 24 hours as the muscles claw back some of their glucose stores. I find there is more BG lowering effect from exercise whilst I am asleep overnight than there is during or just after the exercise itself, so it is likely your body responding whilst you are shopping to your earlier exercise.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Haha! Yup. I’m another. I have to treat a supermarket shopping trip with similar precautions that I’d need for a trip to the gym or an hour’s run!

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Lucky for me I have a pump so learnt a long time ago to lower my basal a couple of hours before I go shopping. It doesn't always work and need a snack as well.

 

[chaoticcar]

I am type 2 and shopping puts my BGS up!! Perhaps it's because the prices keep going up!!!
Carol

 

[Jon-Manchester]

I am type 2 and shopping puts my BGS up!! Perhaps it's because the prices keep going up!!!
Carol

That is the 'fun' part of blood sugars, sometimes it feels bit random of how it works.
I think i need to follow your tactic Mike and actually think about it as i do about going for a run/gym/cycling...