I’ve been a type-1 diabetic since I was a kid. I know you are probably wondering why I am asking this question at this point in time, but here is why I am asking:
I have been using chocolate milk as my “go to” for when my blood sugar drops, the carbs in the hershey syrup combined with the milk gets my blood sugar up rather fast and keeps it level. If I drink gatorade or another sugary juice, it will rise quickly, but will slowly start dropping again on it’s own.
I now think that I have an allergy to milk. This has not been confirmed, but I cannot think of anything else it might be at this point (other than chocolate). I have had excessive post nasal drip for over a year now, but no other sinus issues have ever came. Doctors have had me try numerous nose sprays, allergy medicines, and nasal washes that have not helped (even slightly). I have taken a few things out of my diet gradually except for dairy/milk. The post nasal drip causes me to constantly clear my throat and not only annoy me, but everyone else around me. It is seriously the most frustrating thing I have had to endure. There is no relief!
So, with me cutting out dairy while I confirm my suspicions, what could I use in place? I prefer a drink if possible (for the ease of it), but am open to other suggestions.
Any and all help is appreciated. You have helped me with my dexcom sensor questions in the past, so thank you for that as well!
I use Hershey’s Syrup also, as my “go to” when I’m low. Works faster than skittles (and I do NOT do glucose tab anymore. hate those things and they are costly to boot)
How about Almond Milk? My wife can’t do dairy, so that’s what we have and it works fine for making bread, pancakes, chocolate “milk”, etc. It’s not bad at all, unlike other non dairy products.
The things that works best for me are these fruit gummy strips that I get from Aldi’s. They have 10 carbs which is all I need (as long as I’m 50 or above) and I don’t have a problem dropping back down.
Each person should become familiar with how many carbs they need to get out of a particular low, rather than thinking 15 carbs is the answer to each and every one of them.
I’m with @phoenixbound on hating the glucose tabs, but the one advantage of that is that I NEVER want to have more of 'em than the bare minimum to get my hypo turned around. I usually keep one just out next to a glass of water on my night table so I don’t have to wake all the way up if I get a mild overnight hypo.
Hardest thing for me with zapping a bad hypo, which for me is anything below 60, is knowing when to STOP. Because that Eat Now!!! imperative keeps going until the glucose kicks in, which is usually about fifteen minutes past the point when you shoulda stopped eating. Mostly I just try to gut it out so I don’t set up a roller coaster ride, but having something that isn’t very high carb handy to help curb the awful craving sometimes helps. I’m with @Terry4 on the peanut butter suggestion. If I get hit with a really bad one in the middle of the night, I’ll stagger out to the kitchen for a tablespoon of honey followed by one of PB, maybe two or three, because something about the consistency and effort to eat it tells my brain Ok, Ok, OK, I’m EATING! while the honey does its work.
Your replies are all greatly appreciated. I have glucose tabs, but like some of you I dislike taking them. I think I will try the almond milk route with chocolate just because I can drink it fast. Over the 16 years of me having diabetes, I’ve always associated lows and drinking chocolate milk so that may make me feel better as if I’m following my previous habit, heh.
I think there is definitely a psychological factor at play, since the GI of chocolate milk is in the high 40’s, depending on the milk used. Glucose tabs have a GI of 100, so they are going to be much faster. FWIW, almond milk has a GI of 30.
Like @phoenixbound and @DrBB, and you, I am not too fond of the taste, But, the fact that glucose tabs are not the best tasting thing is a good thing to me, because what I hate more than the taste is chasing a rebound high when I over-treat a low.
Exactly. They are not the teeniest bit tempting to overindulge in. Especially the ones that have been sitting in a plastic tube in the carrier bag on my bike for a few months.
I don’t detest the taste of glucose tabs but neither do I enjoy the taste. The beauty of glucose tabs is that it’s a measured response that does not easily slip into an over-response.
I’ve treated hypos in the past using maple syrup. It’s liquid, works quickly and has the great taste of a forbidden fruit. One tablespoon (US) contains 13.25 grams of carbs. Limiting my survival-threatened hypo brain to just one tablespoon was a challenge. The temptation to just take a swig from the container directly totally blew away any sense of scale. Next thing I knew I had quickly consumed a 1/4 cup and 53 grams of carbs and propelled my BG to the stratosphere.
All I’m saying is that if you can consistently deliver a measured and precise dose of your favorite forbidden treat while dealing with an impaired brain, then more power to you. I cannot consistently do that. My chalky tasting glucose tabs have dependably cured most hypos without loading me onto the next gluco-coaster.
I think a better way to satiate an appetite for things “off-limts” is to just plan for the occasional treat and take the necessary counter-measures, doing so with a sober brain!
This thread reminds me of one time when I was younger. I was probably 9 or 10 and my brother was 11 or 12 and my mother left us home alone for a short while to run to the store. My blood sugar dropped and my brother made me eat spoonfuls of straight sugar. I mean, it worked, but I could barely swallow it (I didn’t have anything to drink with it) and it made me SO nauseous. I just remember crying while he forced a couple spoonfuls into my mouth. I laugh about it now, he was trying to take care of me.
The Apple juice boxes with a straw stuck to the side. The keep it up issue may be solved with insulin dosage changes. But if I was on long acting… keep BG up is not so simple. Just tossing up ideas, oatmeal, Snicker bar, protein bar or shake, Apple and cheese, more of the meal you over bolused for?
I’m also not a fan of chalky glucose tablets but have found one called Glucolift. Three different flavored, cherry, blueberry and my favorite orange cream. I get them at Amazon. The person who owns the company is also a PWD and he also hated the chalky taste. While I wouldn’t sit down and eat them for fun, they aren’t bad tasting at all. Big problem for me is while tablets always bring it up, it never holds. Peanut butter one of my favorite snacks comes into play. I could live on peanut butter!
