Also, SweeTarts are another all dextrose (plus flavorings) candy option. Actually, I like those even better than smarties—like slightly sour glucose tabs. They are a bit firmer/denser in texture too, so I agree with @LZ1 that the lack of glucose dust is a nice feature. Sweetarts also come in larger/thicker rolls (the kind sold individually at the register of the drugstore, but I bet you can get those in bulk online too), so that might work better for people who need larger doses.
It’s true that smarties/sweetarts might not work well if you take a lot of carbs to treat lows, but for me, if I have more than 15 grams (and sometimes even that much), I’d need to follow up with insulin to prevent a rebound high. I’ve sometimes done that, because when I’m really low, all I’m thinking is GIMME SUGARRRR, and I overtreat, but these days if I do that, once I start rising at all (before it goes to a double arrow up), I take insulin to cover the extra amount.
Many candies are made with mostly dextrose, and will also work very quickly. These include Smarties (called Rockets in Canada), Sweet Tarts, Nerds, Runts, Spree, Bottlecaps, and a bunch of others. Many are branded under the name “Wonka” candies. Just check the ingredient list: if dextrose is the first thing listed, it should be a winner!
I am a bit confused by this. When you said this, I thought you were saying that fructose took longer. I have heard other people say that too, but for me it works quickly. So I use it, and ignore the folks who say it is not as fast.
But when you said this, I was confused:
So do you not think fruit juice is slower because it is processed by the liver?
That’s my feeling on it, that it’s just as quick as anything else. Can you clarify?
I’m just curious if the processed by the liver thing really matters. For me it doesn’t seem to make a difference.
I once treated a hypo with a glass of milk because that was all I had. I was surprised at how well it worked. I don’t think you will find any training or advice supporting that tactic.
There’s often disconnects in our experience as people living with diabetes as opposed to what the science supports. I haven’t read about any studies comparing the relative speed of dextrose absorption versus fructose. Perhaps it’s different yet insignificant to us in practice.
My thinking about fructose has been influenced to some extent by the assertions by many informed sources that high fructose corn syrup has played a role in the obesity epidemic. When reading about it I learned that the “high fructose” meant 55% fructose versus 45% glucose, not a seemingly big difference. Sucrose or table sugar is half fructose and half glucose for comparison.
I don’t think this distinction is important. I treat hypos with pure glucose and you treat hypos with fructose (juice). We’re each happy with the results.
I have a hunch that fructose, in the quantities (and quality) consumed by first world countries, will end up being seen as harmful to us. But I don’t expect science to be able to make that conclusion before I’m long gone.
When I was a child, my family used a small 4-ounce glass we called a juice glass. We viewed 4-ounces as a serving of orange juice. Today, we think nothing of drinking 8, 12, or even 16 ounces of juice as a serving. I think the much healthier option is to eat the actual orange instead of drinking its juice.
As people living with diabetes, we need to make conclusions without all the evidence. Sometimes we need to guess. I’m guessing that the over-consumption of fructose in refined forms will be seen as an unhealthy practice.
I may have just been inferring that it was slower, just because of the way I always heard it phrased - “Fructose has to go through the liver.” The phrase “has to” just kinda struck me as people saying it was slower. Maybe that’s not what they mean when they say that.
But I do agree, you can treat with just about anything.
I agree you can treat lows with anything. I use Yoohoo chocolate drinks. I can keep them at my bedside and they taste good. After reading all of your conversations, it may be too many carbs-22g/box.
Skittles don’t crumble–good, if carried in purse or pocket! I’ve always gotten pretty fast results if I chew them. My favorite thing about them is they’re 1gram carb each–easy to calculate.
