I agree! I’ve been pickling myself in diet sodas sweetened with artificial sweeteners for over 30 years (yes, I agree with the FDA that sugar subs are safe) and can only associate “regular” soda with the unpleasant sensation of a bad blood sugar low or an upset stomach. Yech.
I would use a soda if it was the only available source of sugar, but I agree–glucose tabs are precise, quick, and a great way to raise the low without adding any unnecessary calories.
The old mantra of “eat a snack when you’re low” is an unfortunate myth that just won’t go away. Even my glucose meter asks me “Do you need a snack?” when my reading is below 70 mg/dl. It should say, “Do you need to treat the low?” A very small amount of dextrose usually lifts a person back in range very quickly (unless there’s an overdose of insulin or there’s lots of physical activity in the picture). Who wants to follow up a low with an overtreatment high–not me! When I eat food to treat, it’s just too easy to overdo it.
At Diabetes class someone recommended those little tubes of cake frosting. Yummm.
Coke zero is very similar to the taste of regular coke. We are just used to the taste of the sweeter diet coke or coke light as it is called in Germany.
LOL, with shopping a low is guaranteed. Afterwards I always ask myself “why haven’t you prepared yourself better?”. I have no clue - maybe my inner resistance to shopping is impacting my proactive thinking…
I grab a chocolate milk. I know it has some sugar
As a former paramedic, and still promoted by many paramedics, I believe in the cake frosting for serious lows. I use it for my mother, who can drop to 20 in a blink. It provides the sugar, plus it is thick, so there is less chance of choking, if administered to someone who is not too coherent.
Honestly what works best for me is 5 lifesavers. I always have some in my purse. It will bring me back to normal within 5 minutes, I’ve timed it! However not all stores carry them anymore (I know for sure 7 Eleven does, but that’s not where I shop). I’ve heard skittles do the trick pretty well, but you have to take more of them.
That being said, regular Coke does fine too, I was at my NP once and had a low, she gave me 1/2 can and all was better pretty soon.
Also, there are some good diet sodas out there besides Coke/Pepsi - try Stewart’s Diet Rootbeer or Dr. Brown’s Diet Cream Soda.
I had a BG of 51 at the grocery store and had to sit down. Someone gave me a Hershey chocolate bar and I ate it after 15 min I was at 72 and finished checking out and went home. An hour later I was 114. So it seemed to work for what I needed it for.
Wow - you are lucky the chocolate bar worked - for some people - due to fat content - the sugar doesn’t get into our system quick enough. I have to admit - chocolate bar over Coke - I’ll take any day - but training over the years of being diabetic - I tend to go for a juice box or candies. My dentist makes good money from me!!
Really - we can’t get Lifesavers in the UK? I know my Mum always kept a roll for me - the assorted fruit ones! They did the job like you say.
Danny - I actually wrote about VITA Coco in the forums at Diabetes1.org the other day - I used the pineapple 500 mL box to bring me back up (was like drinking a virgin Pina Colada ). Here’s the link for the forum posting I did there - along with links for the manufacturer, etc.
Yeah - I know - I’m Coco Loco - what can I say 
Have to admit Coke/Pepsi - doesn’t matter - as long as it works.
If the hyperlink doesn’t work above - here’s the full length version - http://www.diabetes1.org/forum/Low_Blood_Sugar_Hypoglycemia/Anyone_…
Oh Alan - Port wine gums - don’t get me started (salivating over keyboard here). If we ever get together - we’re going to be fighting over those!
That’s hilarious! Love it! I think Snoopy is a big root beer drinker, if I remember correctly. Not that I liken myself to Snoopy.
Oh yes and juice does work well, like 1/2 cup oj – but I gotta be careful with the amount or I get too “high.”
Danny,
Your point regarding the differance of soda, soft drink merchandising was my focus of this Discussion. The change in packaging for Pepsi almost resulted in an error by me in choosing a Pepsi Product that had no carbs. Therefore not allow me to bring my BS up. Silver Bottle, NO CARBS, Light blue label, NO CARBS, Dark blue Label yes yes it has carbs. The easist package to recognize is the red bottle from Coke. No guessing with that.
Milk works Great!
Lipton makes a diet sparkling green tea.It has 0 carbs 0 sugar. It tastes great too. I was drinking this until my local store stopped carrying it.
The grocery store is one place where oddly enough, I often have a hypoglycemic reaction. Weird. For me it’s neither Pepsi or Coke - I don’t like the taste of cola. Darling spouse attempted to give me a can of cola during a night time episode. big mistake. I’m glad he has patience for me when I’m hypo-Mrs McCranky Pants.
When it happens in the grocery store, I chug a small container of chocolate milk. It’s a bit of a treat, because it’s the only time I ever have it.
Eww. Hehe. I used to like Pepsi much more than Coke; but can’t stand diet pepsi. Diet Coke wasn’t great either, but tolerable. Thank goodness for Coke Zero. That’s great stuff in my book.
That’s funny. 
I’d never heard of wine gum. Could be interesting.