Coke and chocolate in vending machines in hospital

[Heatherirvine]

Only thing that seems to work quick enough for me as I have rapid onset hypoglycaemia with NO symptoms so I can function very well with a 1.2 blood sugar which is so unbelievably dangerous. I have constant glucose monitors at the moment which are a help but it still doesn't always help as it drops so quickly my cognitive function has usually gone by the time the sensor picks up the low bm (although it has saved visits from the ambulance service). Also it should only be the original lucozade they offer as the carbohydrate in the others isn't as high and it doesn't work as quick. I have tried dextrosol, glucose gel, sugar it seems to work best for me. What do you find is best for you?

The lucozade works best for me I mean

 

[Lamont D]

It is different
It is different for diabetics than it is for you Nosher

Is it? Does it not spike you then? I thought that would give you hypers! We must be different then or am I on the wrong forum!

 

[Lamont D]

Only thing that seems to work quick enough for me as I have rapid onset hypoglycaemia with NO symptoms so I can function very well with a 1.2 blood sugar which is so unbelievably dangerous. I have constant glucose monitors at the moment which are a help but it still doesn't always help as it drops so quickly my cognitive function has usually gone by the time the sensor picks up the low bm (although it has saved visits from the ambulance service). Also it should only be the original lucozade they offer as the carbohydrate in the others isn't as high and it doesn't work as quick. I have tried dextrosol, glucose gel, sugar it seems to work best for me. What do you find is best for you?

I cannot have a glucagon injection if the emergency services attended me, because that is the cause of my condition, the glucagon floods the insulin from my pancreas. Then I hypo! If I had any sport drink, the yo-yo effect would have serious consequences. I too have had very low readings!

 

[Heatherirvine]

Is it? Does it not spike you then? I thought that would give you hypers! We must be different then or am I on the wrong forum!

I know you only need about 100mls it would send them through the roof if I drank loads in one go but it would take about 2 packs of glucose tablets before it would even touch mine. Sometimes your body gets used to it so it's worth trying something else from time to time. My diabetic team are more concerned with my hypos than the high sugars at the moment to be honest and I can deal with highs and and short term consequence better than the thought of my children finding me dead in bed from a severe hypo.

 

[Lamont D]

The lucozade works best for me I mean

Are you hypoglycaemic? Meaning that you have low blood sugars with your diabetes?
Don't mean to be nosy, just interested or am I reading too much into the info you gave?

 

[Heatherirvine]

Are you hypoglycaemic? Meaning that you have low blood sugars with your diabetes?
Don't mean to be nosy, just interested or am I reading too much into the info you gave?

Ask away. I do have problems with severe hypos I'm averaging 4 per day at mo. The monitor is helping reduce paramedics but I just don't know what seems to be causing them and my diabetes team are just as puzzled. My insulin is being dropped every few days. I have tried running them high to see if I can get my awareness back to no avail. I have had to teach my children to be aware of what to look out for and how to ring the emergency services it's a nightmare but I guess it comes with the territory and the length of time I've had it. I think we have cracked it and got rid of them at 1 point in the day but then I start having them at another point. It's never ending. My worst one was last Monday when I had a fit as I truly believe if I hadn't been found when I was I wouldn't be writing on this forum now. Im so glad I found this forum as it's so good to talk to people who understand where your coming from

 

[this is too difficult]

I cannot have a glucagon injection if the emergency services attended me, because that is the cause of my condition, the glucagon floods the insulin from my pancreas. Then I hypo! If I had any sport drink, the yo-yo effect would have serious consequences. I too have had very low readings!

TRY REDUCING THE AMMOUNT OF CARBS YOU EAT.

 

[this is too difficult]

Oops sorry didn't mean to shout.

 

[Lamont D]

TRY REDUCING THE AMMOUNT OF CARBS YOU EAT.

I AM ON MEDS!
I am testing and trying some medium carbs to see what happens. If I wanted to shout out me, I'd ask the wife!!

 

[Heatherirvine]

I cannot have a glucagon injection if the emergency services attended me, because that is the cause of my condition, the glucagon floods the insulin from my pancreas. Then I hypo! If I had any sport drink, the yo-yo effect would have serious consequences. I too have had very low readings!

I don't have any insulin to worry about as my pancreas doesn't produce any. The glucagon injections are suppose to be followed by glucose so it can get replaced in the liver. Hypos must be a nightmare for you. How do they treat them if they are severe without the glucagon?

 

[Lamont D]

Ask away. I do have problems with severe hypos I'm averaging 4 per day at mo. The monitor is helping reduce paramedics but I just don't know what seems to be causing them and my diabetes team are just as puzzled. My insulin is being dropped every few days. I have tried running them high to see if I can get my awareness back to no avail. I have had to teach my children to be aware of what to look out for and how to ring the emergency services it's a nightmare but I guess it comes with the territory and the length of time I've had it. I think we have cracked it and got rid of them at 1 point in the day but then I start having them at another point. It's never ending. My worst one was last Monday when I had a fit as I truly believe if I hadn't been found when I was I wouldn't be writing on this forum now. Im so glad I found this forum as it's so good to talk to people who understand where your coming from

Agh, the light has come on. Too much glucagon, which causes the insulin to flush is a problem I have. The reduction in insulin in your case should reduce the hypos. But it's not happening, I will have to look this up, not a T1 expert, nowhere near, I am trying to learn about all the different causes, diets and meds and how they affect us, cos we are all different.
My meds are inhibitors to stop my insulin flushing, have the docs tried these? Fishing in the dark here!

 

[Lamont D]

I don't have any insulin to worry about as my pancreas doesn't produce any. The glucagon injections are suppose to be followed by glucose so it can get replaced in the liver. Hypos must be a nightmare for you. How do they treat them if they are severe without the glucagon?

I have to take something low GI, like 1 digestive biscuit, with a can of diet coke. Then maybe something more in about 15 minutes. Nothing drastic as I will end up having another one!

 

[Heatherirvine]

Agh, the light has come on. Too much glucagon, which causes the insulin to flush is a problem I have. The reduction in insulin in your case should reduce the hypos. But it's not happening, I will have to look this up, not a T1 expert, nowhere near, I am trying to learn about all the different causes, diets and meds and how they affect us, cos we are all different.
My meds are inhibitors to stop my insulin flushing, have the docs tried these? Fishing in the dark here!

No idea what they are. I've been diabetic from being 18 months old they didn't even have human insulin when I was diagnosed (was on pork and beef insulin for a number of years). You would think the reduction would help but it takes such a long time to settle. I think all the hypos have damaged my liver as I take an exceptionally long time to recover (usually over an hour). I do my sugars very frequently (have to on a pump) but then my bedtime sugar will be 9.3 but then it drops to 1.6 at about 4 am (yesterday). Are you type 2 nosher?

 

[Heatherirvine]

Wow you don't need much to put you right again do you. I wish that's all I needed. I would need to eat the packet to get even a slight rise

 

[Lamont D]

What I have is Reactive Hypoglycaemia, diagnosed T2 over 5 years ago. Only just found I was not T2 probably prediabetic, no one knows for sure, (except for This Is Too Difficult)) then constant hypos led me to where I am, not diabetic at all. I have a natrual aversion to carbs and sugars.
I follow a diabetic diet, low carbs, med fats, I have diabetic symptoms, and I have a really rare condition!
I find the diversity of all the 'disease' of Diabetes fascinating and I'm trying to understand the science, which means I can see what is happening to me.
I am testing, tasting,testing,

 

[Lamont D]

Wow you don't need much to put you right again do you. I wish that's all I needed. I would need to eat the packet to get even a slight rise

I am really scared what these hypos do to me, having had them often, just like you, now that I know that my meds are working, I can concentrate on finding things to eat, which won't affect my BSLs. Before meds I was having 6 small meals a day with no carbs, finding things to eat was a real pain...........!

 

[Heatherirvine]

What I have is Reactive Hypoglycaemia, diagnosed T2 over 5 years ago. Only just found I was not T2 probably prediabetic, no one knows for sure, (except for This Is Too Difficult)) then constant hypos led me to where I am, not diabetic at all. I have a natrual aversion to carbs and sugars.
I follow a diabetic diet, low carbs, med fats, I have diabetic symptoms, and I have a really rare condition!
I find the diversity of all the 'disease' of Diabetes fascinating and I'm trying to understand the science, which means I can see what is happening to me.
I am testing, tasting,testing,

It is all trial and error was same for me when I went on my pump but this is marvellous as I have far more freedom with food ( if I know the carbs I can have it) it's very clever. It does impact my life I can't lie but it could be worse at least there are good doctors and specialists that treat you as if your not stupid. I do feel my diabetes has robbed me of things (unable to drive) but you can't let it beat you you just have to take the rough with the smooth.

 

[Heatherirvine]

It is all trial and error was same for me when I went on my pump but this is marvellous as I have far more freedom with food ( if I know the carbs I can have it) it's very clever. It does impact my life I can't lie but it could be worse at least there are good doctors and specialists that treat you as if your not stupid. I do feel my diabetes has robbed me of things (unable to drive) but you can't let it beat you you just have to take the rough with the smooth.

Another thing is different insulin have different effects my hypos have ranged from aggressive to shaky,clammy, buzzy lips and now nothing in regard to symptoms. It's changed a lot over the time I've been diabetic that's for sure

 

[Heatherirvine]

I am really scared what these hypos do to me, having had them often, just like you, now that I know that my meds are working, I can concentrate on finding things to eat, which won't affect my BSLs. Before meds I was having 6 small meals a day with no carbs, finding things to eat was a real pain...........!

The hypos from a diabetic point of view are more dangerous as they are immediately life threatening but the long term effects should be reduced by preventing a yo yo effect which is what your doing. You'll get there with it, just don't let it get you down. blood sugar is all trial and error and nobody will get it right 100% of the time. My sugars have had an effect on me with my memory and cognitive function for definite but mine go exceptionally low 1.2 or lower (most diabetics would be unconscious or so I've been told - the paramedics use to think their glucose machine was faulty because I was still awake (not necessarily aware of surroundings) )

 

[ConradJ]

Surely it's a persons choice. I really don't know what happened to freedom of choice but it seems all we have now are bans on unhealthy foods and a proposal for taxing sugar. Whatever happened to people's self control when it comes to eating the wrong foods?
Banning these foods and drinks will just make people rebel and drink and eat them more surely.


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App

Is it really someone's choice if they have been fed highly addictive substances from an early age? Or if they have succumbed to the incessant pressure of ads telling them that "you're worth it", or "A Mars a day helps you work, rest and play" or that they have been lied to for 50+ years about the contents of the foods they buy and the fact that most 'healthy' products lining the shelves (and pockets) of the big retailers and food processors are full of things most of us would vomit over in their raw form?

Surely, the role of a democratic government and health department is to legislate and regulate to ensure the populace are served for the best? Otherwise, let's scrap smoking bans, scrap the limit on alcohol and driving, remove the safeguards / restrictions on T1D's and hypos; in fact, let's just scrap any form of legislation that curtails / imposes heavy penalties on some activities... and then we'd really be in the mire.

Personally, I think the vending machines should be kept - and serve up 70%+ dark chocolate, Yeo Valley full fat yoghurts, real coffee, etc.