Glucose fixes for tiny BS lows

[LucySW]

What glucose/sugar snacks do people use when they want to raise their BS by a couple of mmol? I'm talking about situations when BS is stable and level, but just a bit low for what you're about to do. E.g. driving, I suppose. For me, when my BS is 4.5 and steady, which is fine, but I want to raise it to 6 or 6.5 for driving purposes. Or perhaps in the night.

I'm not talking about steeply falling BS and real hypos. I've never yet had one of those, thank goodness.

Lucy

 

[noblehead]

I just use oat crackers Lucy if there's no IOB.

 

[drahawkins_1973]

Nairns crackers are good. I also carry a bag of peanut m&ms and will have a couple of those for situations like you describe (they are around 1.5g carb each)


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[noblehead]

Nairns crackers are good.

Especially the cheese ones Andrea

 

[drahawkins_1973]

Especially the cheese ones Andrea

My favourite too


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[ElyDave]

half a 9-bar, a bit of a NAKD bar, an oatcake, a ginger nut, rice cake etc

Maybe half an apple

 

[LucySW]

How many grams of carb are those? 5-ish? 10-ish?

 

[britincali]

One digestive raises my BG by 1 mm ol

 

[drahawkins_1973]

Oatcakes are 4-6g depending on which type. I think apples are about 18g ish?!

I buy the children's pre cut apple snacks which are 9g a bag.


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[ElyDave]

How many grams of carb are those? 5-ish? 10-ish?

They're all in that range.

Apples depends on size.

If I really want to push the boat out I'll go with a fig roll at 13g

 

[-Artemis-]

How many grams of carb are those? 5-ish? 10-ish?

Like @ElyDave I'd go for half a nine bar.... the peanut ones (no choc) are 10g per bar, so half a bar is 5g - and that's enough to give me a bit of a boost without being a sudden high. Half an apple and a tablespoon of peanut butter is another goodie - also around 5g carbs, obviously depending on apple size ;-)

 

[ljwilson]

I just use oat crackers Lucy if there's no IOB.

What is an IOB?

Lorna

 

[robert72]

What is an IOB?

Lorna

Insulin on board (still active in your body)

 

[diamondnostril]

Hi @LucySW . . .

I use Dextro Energy Minis (are these available in the UK?)

I find these excellent for both "real" Hypos, and for fine-tuning my blood-sugar level if I want to.

The tablets are small; each contains 1.3g CHO and will raise my level by 11mg/dl (0.6mmol/l).

I find them excellent for "real" hypos because they come in small boxes made of card, with a top that flips open very easily. Ideal for situations where your co-ordination is not good. If you drop the box, more often than not some tablets will spill out.

And because each tablet raises my level by a smallish amount, they are also good for fine-tuning. Each tablet comprises 2 distinct halves, so it's easy to bite one in half if I want to fine-tune by 6mg/dl (0.3mmol/l).

Some people hate the chalky taste. I'm also not keen on it, but for me this is a good thing . . . I tend not to eat them like sweets, so it's not tempting to eat too many when correcting my level. Therefore it's really different for me to having sweets or chocolate in the house.

Regards
Antony

 

[LucySW]

Insulin on board (still active in your body)

Does that mean quick-acting? Sorry, still learning thus stuff.

 

[robert72]

Does that mean quick-acting? Sorry, still learning thus stuff.

Generally yes (unless you have taken too much basal which could have the potential to reduce your BG)

 

[noblehead]

What is an IOB?

Lorna

As Robert says it stands for Insulin on Board, the American refer to it as BOB (Bolus on Board) but it all means the same thing.

 

[Diamattic]

Right now i usually always have some small tootsie rolls in my pocket or bag. Each one is 5g of carbs, works fairly fast. I buy them in bulk for a couple dollars and they last the month