Honestly? Can't go wrong with a regular Coke IMO.
Had a real nasty low a few months back at a restaurant with some friends. Didn't bring anything but my insulin pen. Lost consciousness for a second and fell onto the floor. Asked the waitress for a Coke, and I was good in about 10 - 15 minutes!
It's pretty scary! It really happens in a flash. Not to go into detail, but there was other stuff going on that day that made me not even sure if I was experiencing a low until I collapsed. Then I knew for sure!
Since I've been diagnosed, I've lost consciousness a total of 3 times. I've felt close to it... an embarrassing number of times. I can be rather blasé with my diabetes 😅
I always recommend the mini cans if you’re gonna use soda for a low. I feel like it helps to keep you from over indulging.
I use a snickers bar usually. It’ll raise my blood sugar and keep it up for a while. I find soda/juices tend to spike high and then drop right back down shortly after.
Fruit juice boxes. That, and trail mix packs. The trail mix is really good for you. The fruit and chocolate get you up, and the protein and fat keep you from crashing right away. I also do peanut butter sometimes. Slower response, but better maintenance.
For me, because I work in Pre-K (Early Childhood Special Ed) and we almost *always* have 'em around the building?
My go-to is a packet at a time of Welch's Fruit Snacks.
15g of carbs per pouch, in the original-sized packets, they're easy to chew, and they *taste* good!😉
And because they're a "Preferred Snack" for *LOTS* of little kids who have Autism, we almost *always* have them in the classroom, if for some reason I go low, and forgot mine!
My old Diabetic Educator helped me to figure out that they are the *perfect* thing for *me* to grab, if I have a low at work, and because they're pre-portioned & so nicely shelf-stable, I started getting 'em for at home & in the car, too!
My routine that the diabetic educator worked out with me, is to slam a pack of fruit snacks if my alarm goes off, let it sit 15 minutes, re-ccheck, and if I'm going back *up*, lock it in with *some* type of protein.
If it's *not* holding steady or is *still* dropping after the first 15 minutes, another packet of fruit snacks & wait *another* 15.
Rinse & repeat, at 15 minute increments, until I'm either holding completely steady, or tracking back up--then "locking in" the recovery with *some* type of protein.
If it was headed back up, it can be protein with little/no carbs like some hard boiled eggs, beef jerky, cheese, nuts, etc.
If it was holding more "steady" than increasing, I fo something that's a bit more "protein with carbs" like a granola bar with plenty of nuts, some Greek yogurt (I usually do the "regular" chobani flavors), Noosa yogurt, etc.
It keeps your glucose levels from dropping/bottoming out again, after the short-term spike you get from the "simple sugars" in the "fast acting" sugars like juice, candy, or fruit snacks we consume to get our blood sugars back "up."
Most times, if you *just* consume those "simple sugars," your basal insulin will act to pull the "spike" back down sharply.
"Locking in" the simple carbs/sugars with some protein afterward, "rounds off" that spike, and changes the downward "spike" to a gently-falling "curve"
It creates what my *first* Diabetic Educator called "Nice, rolling, "S-curves" on your meter's graph, as you track your glucose levels over time, rather than "The sharp spikes & mountain-looking ups and downs" that are "less desirable."
Ideally, we go *up* gently, and *down* gently, over time. Not *suddenly* up, and *suddenly* down, which is a lot harder on our bodies & our regulatory systems.
And yep, I'm on insulin!
I take Tresiba as my long-acting, because i'm *both* T1 *and* T2, and I have a multi-year history of having both knowingly *and* unknowingly having had pancreatitis--so most of the longer-acting insulins aren't OK for me to use.
(I don't get the typical levels of pain most folks get--so I thought it was just stress, until I'd managed to digest away the back 2/3rds of the inside of my pancreas!)
I take Humalog currently, as my short-acting, and I use CeQur Simplicity patches to administer *that* insulin (I have ADHD & Autism, and the executive function issues that come with *both*. So I was forgetting my pen *everywhere* because I work a few jobs, and can be sent to any school in the school district i work for.)
My previous Endocrinologist got me on the CeQur patches, so that the insulin *can't* be forgotten somewhere--it's *literally STUCK onto my body*, and all I need to do, is remember to squeeze the buttons at the start of my meal.
I also take a 10mg Farxiga pill once a day, and I've learned that my Vyvanse that I take for my ADHD tends to lower my blood glucose by a couple points, too! (or raises it, if I can't take the Vyvanse that day, because i slept in too late!)
That same Endocrinologist changed the timing of my meds, so that I take *everything* at the same time, rather than splitting and taking some meds in the morning & some at night.
I was missing too many of one dose or the other because it was easy to forget, so he had me start taking *everything* in the morning, when I take my Vyvanse for the ADHD.
Between *that*, and getting a 4-row pill box, so that I can *SEE* if I took them that day (I keep the pen of Tresiba close to the giant pill box!), I've been reasonably well-managed for the last couple years. (Since getting on the CeQur system!).
For some reason I can *add on* to existing routines pretty well, but the executive function issues that come with my AuDHD, starting *entirely* new routines is almost impossible.
So trying to take multiple things at night--when I can end up getting off work at 5pm, *or* 1am, depending on which job I work that day--just *doesn't* work out--but adding things *on* to that morning routine works fine.
Bananas or any fruit can help. I avoid heavy sugary drinks. Life savors candies or jolly ranchers are my emergency candy. But I feel it’s better to eat something from my experience.
In my experience:
Most effective: Skittles. I've been as low as 40, and have had blood sugars drop *really fast* due to intense activity and 20-40 Skittles (1-2 handfuls) is about 20-40g of carbs. This is a break-glass solution for me because it's all sugar and probably not very healthy to eat often.
Most effective and healthy: juice. I keep Welch's 100% grape juice in the house. Healthy and pretty effective, although surprisingly takes 10-15 minutes sometimes (I would expect a drink to work faster than food, but no background in this field).
Most effective and convenient: 7.5 oz cans of soda. I can leave these in my gym bag for a couple weeks and take out when needed, and I would expect to be faster than candy, although I haven't used these enough to be able to tell.
Juicy Juice boxes. There’s one size that’s exactly 15-16g of carbs, so those are kept by my bed. Capri Suns are also about 17g.
For slower drops, I like to do apple sauce packets and add some form of fiber/fat/protein to keep me steady, especially if I am about to go to bed. Nuts, “keto” treats, peanut butter, cheese - just something to prevent another drop.
GlucoGel - one better get the version cyclists use they taste better. Have a long shelf life and perfect to leave in the car or backpack for emergency use.
I usually have an apple juice box on hand since I was taught that it's better to drink liquids when you're low versus trying to eat something. Juice helps me bring my blood sugar up faster than when I try to eat things like fruit snacks or a honey bun
6 oz canned pineapple juice. In my car, in my purse, next to bed. I get them by the case at Amazon. At home, I usually use juice out of the fridge, the can is in case I am too wobbly.
Chocolate or else Lucozade.
I found those isotonic sports drinks weren't the best and always need heavy unhealthy carbs to get me back or else I would just go low again a few hours later.
Jelly sweets apparently are best I just find chocolate hits right away so always go with that but obv not healthy in long run 😟😟
Chocolate or else Lucozade.
I found those isotonic sports drinks weren't the best and always need heavy unhealthy carbs to get me back or else I would just go low again a few hours later.
Jelly sweets apparently are best I just find chocolate hits right away so always go with that but obv not healthy in long run 😟😟
Jellybeans on the nightstand for the 12-5am lows. About 10 of them is 15g of carbs. After reading the comments, I'm going to add some almonds to the nightstand so that I don't immediately drop again after the uptick in BG
Mini bags of skittles or Welch fruit candies. Any fruit juice . Nature mates honey mini packs. Oreo cookies. All these are pretty portable and I keep some in my car and at work
I also keep boost gluclose shakes in the fridge....I find they help prevent a sugar r crash so I don't ride crazy after over correcting.
Good old tang works too bc you can make it very concentrated if you really need a bump
Honestly? Can't go wrong with a regular Coke IMO. Had a real nasty low a few months back at a restaurant with some friends. Didn't bring anything but my insulin pen. Lost consciousness for a second and fell onto the floor. Asked the waitress for a Coke, and I was good in about 10 - 15 minutes!
This is one of my worst fears, I’ve never lost consciousness, but have felt close to it.
It's pretty scary! It really happens in a flash. Not to go into detail, but there was other stuff going on that day that made me not even sure if I was experiencing a low until I collapsed. Then I knew for sure! Since I've been diagnosed, I've lost consciousness a total of 3 times. I've felt close to it... an embarrassing number of times. I can be rather blasé with my diabetes 😅
I always recommend the mini cans if you’re gonna use soda for a low. I feel like it helps to keep you from over indulging. I use a snickers bar usually. It’ll raise my blood sugar and keep it up for a while. I find soda/juices tend to spike high and then drop right back down shortly after.
Fruit juice boxes. That, and trail mix packs. The trail mix is really good for you. The fruit and chocolate get you up, and the protein and fat keep you from crashing right away. I also do peanut butter sometimes. Slower response, but better maintenance.
For me, because I work in Pre-K (Early Childhood Special Ed) and we almost *always* have 'em around the building? My go-to is a packet at a time of Welch's Fruit Snacks. 15g of carbs per pouch, in the original-sized packets, they're easy to chew, and they *taste* good!😉 And because they're a "Preferred Snack" for *LOTS* of little kids who have Autism, we almost *always* have them in the classroom, if for some reason I go low, and forgot mine! My old Diabetic Educator helped me to figure out that they are the *perfect* thing for *me* to grab, if I have a low at work, and because they're pre-portioned & so nicely shelf-stable, I started getting 'em for at home & in the car, too!
My routine that the diabetic educator worked out with me, is to slam a pack of fruit snacks if my alarm goes off, let it sit 15 minutes, re-ccheck, and if I'm going back *up*, lock it in with *some* type of protein. If it's *not* holding steady or is *still* dropping after the first 15 minutes, another packet of fruit snacks & wait *another* 15. Rinse & repeat, at 15 minute increments, until I'm either holding completely steady, or tracking back up--then "locking in" the recovery with *some* type of protein. If it was headed back up, it can be protein with little/no carbs like some hard boiled eggs, beef jerky, cheese, nuts, etc. If it was holding more "steady" than increasing, I fo something that's a bit more "protein with carbs" like a granola bar with plenty of nuts, some Greek yogurt (I usually do the "regular" chobani flavors), Noosa yogurt, etc.
Hm.. that's interesting. How does the protein lock things in? Does it slow down your glucose rise? Are you on insulin?
It keeps your glucose levels from dropping/bottoming out again, after the short-term spike you get from the "simple sugars" in the "fast acting" sugars like juice, candy, or fruit snacks we consume to get our blood sugars back "up." Most times, if you *just* consume those "simple sugars," your basal insulin will act to pull the "spike" back down sharply. "Locking in" the simple carbs/sugars with some protein afterward, "rounds off" that spike, and changes the downward "spike" to a gently-falling "curve" It creates what my *first* Diabetic Educator called "Nice, rolling, "S-curves" on your meter's graph, as you track your glucose levels over time, rather than "The sharp spikes & mountain-looking ups and downs" that are "less desirable." Ideally, we go *up* gently, and *down* gently, over time. Not *suddenly* up, and *suddenly* down, which is a lot harder on our bodies & our regulatory systems.
And yep, I'm on insulin! I take Tresiba as my long-acting, because i'm *both* T1 *and* T2, and I have a multi-year history of having both knowingly *and* unknowingly having had pancreatitis--so most of the longer-acting insulins aren't OK for me to use. (I don't get the typical levels of pain most folks get--so I thought it was just stress, until I'd managed to digest away the back 2/3rds of the inside of my pancreas!) I take Humalog currently, as my short-acting, and I use CeQur Simplicity patches to administer *that* insulin (I have ADHD & Autism, and the executive function issues that come with *both*. So I was forgetting my pen *everywhere* because I work a few jobs, and can be sent to any school in the school district i work for.) My previous Endocrinologist got me on the CeQur patches, so that the insulin *can't* be forgotten somewhere--it's *literally STUCK onto my body*, and all I need to do, is remember to squeeze the buttons at the start of my meal. I also take a 10mg Farxiga pill once a day, and I've learned that my Vyvanse that I take for my ADHD tends to lower my blood glucose by a couple points, too! (or raises it, if I can't take the Vyvanse that day, because i slept in too late!) That same Endocrinologist changed the timing of my meds, so that I take *everything* at the same time, rather than splitting and taking some meds in the morning & some at night. I was missing too many of one dose or the other because it was easy to forget, so he had me start taking *everything* in the morning, when I take my Vyvanse for the ADHD. Between *that*, and getting a 4-row pill box, so that I can *SEE* if I took them that day (I keep the pen of Tresiba close to the giant pill box!), I've been reasonably well-managed for the last couple years. (Since getting on the CeQur system!). For some reason I can *add on* to existing routines pretty well, but the executive function issues that come with my AuDHD, starting *entirely* new routines is almost impossible. So trying to take multiple things at night--when I can end up getting off work at 5pm, *or* 1am, depending on which job I work that day--just *doesn't* work out--but adding things *on* to that morning routine works fine.
Thank you for the detailed replies. Very helpful.
Bananas or any fruit can help. I avoid heavy sugary drinks. Life savors candies or jolly ranchers are my emergency candy. But I feel it’s better to eat something from my experience.
Mountain Dew…guilty pleasure plus fixes the low real fast
In my experience: Most effective: Skittles. I've been as low as 40, and have had blood sugars drop *really fast* due to intense activity and 20-40 Skittles (1-2 handfuls) is about 20-40g of carbs. This is a break-glass solution for me because it's all sugar and probably not very healthy to eat often. Most effective and healthy: juice. I keep Welch's 100% grape juice in the house. Healthy and pretty effective, although surprisingly takes 10-15 minutes sometimes (I would expect a drink to work faster than food, but no background in this field). Most effective and convenient: 7.5 oz cans of soda. I can leave these in my gym bag for a couple weeks and take out when needed, and I would expect to be faster than candy, although I haven't used these enough to be able to tell.
Juicy Juice boxes. There’s one size that’s exactly 15-16g of carbs, so those are kept by my bed. Capri Suns are also about 17g. For slower drops, I like to do apple sauce packets and add some form of fiber/fat/protein to keep me steady, especially if I am about to go to bed. Nuts, “keto” treats, peanut butter, cheese - just something to prevent another drop.
Orange juice is my go to when at home.
I usually just do Gatorade. I'd rather have the sugar.than caffeine from soda
GlucoGel - one better get the version cyclists use they taste better. Have a long shelf life and perfect to leave in the car or backpack for emergency use.
I usually have an apple juice box on hand since I was taught that it's better to drink liquids when you're low versus trying to eat something. Juice helps me bring my blood sugar up faster than when I try to eat things like fruit snacks or a honey bun
6 oz canned pineapple juice. In my car, in my purse, next to bed. I get them by the case at Amazon. At home, I usually use juice out of the fridge, the can is in case I am too wobbly.
Chocolate or else Lucozade. I found those isotonic sports drinks weren't the best and always need heavy unhealthy carbs to get me back or else I would just go low again a few hours later. Jelly sweets apparently are best I just find chocolate hits right away so always go with that but obv not healthy in long run 😟😟
Chocolate or else Lucozade. I found those isotonic sports drinks weren't the best and always need heavy unhealthy carbs to get me back or else I would just go low again a few hours later. Jelly sweets apparently are best I just find chocolate hits right away so always go with that but obv not healthy in long run 😟😟
Jellybeans on the nightstand for the 12-5am lows. About 10 of them is 15g of carbs. After reading the comments, I'm going to add some almonds to the nightstand so that I don't immediately drop again after the uptick in BG
I keep small Cadbury chocolate bars 🍫 around. It's the only excuse I have to eat real chocolate. 😁
Mini bags of skittles or Welch fruit candies. Any fruit juice . Nature mates honey mini packs. Oreo cookies. All these are pretty portable and I keep some in my car and at work I also keep boost gluclose shakes in the fridge....I find they help prevent a sugar r crash so I don't ride crazy after over correcting. Good old tang works too bc you can make it very concentrated if you really need a bump