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Glucose Tablets versus everything else - speed of action on hypos

EllieM

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New Zealand
Type of diabetes
Type 1
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hypos and forum bugs
OK, looks like my local pharmacy/chemist has given up on stocking glucose tablets (lift glucotabs) have been on back order for 3 months) so if I want specific glucose tablets I need to order online.

This requires a bit more organisation than before but I can do it.

But am wondering how much of a dfference pure glucose makes versus buying a large variety pack of 90% "sugar" lollies/sweets from the supermarket (more convenient in terms of I don't need to buy ahead).

Typically I'm looking for a quick (and speed is of the essence) hit when my bg has just hit 4.4 and my dexcom alerts. If I take some sugar (fructose/sucrose) immediately it usually goes below 4 before it starts ascending.

Anyone got any hard facts or impressions?
 
Hopeful34 said:
Fastest acting for me is definitely Lift glucojuice.
Click to expand...


Thanks for that, will definitely have to give it a try

Glucojuice Zesty Lemon & Lime12 Shots

Tough, resealable container is ideal for use on-the-go – keep them in your desk, car, bag or gym bag Free from caffeine, taurine, gluten, artificial colours and sweeteners Suitable for children over 5 years, people with diabetes, vegetarians, and vegans
www.healthpharm.co.uk

I will esperiment. Do you find it significantly faster than sweet alternatives?
 
I don't know if you can get them but I find Glucojel Jelly Beans (they have 30% glucose not sucrose) work just as quickly, for me, as the glucose tablets. Actually, maybe quicker because I can eat them faster. They do have sucrose/cane sugar in them as well as the glucose
 
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To be fair @EllieM ,

(Appreciated I use a Libre sensor.)
In my experience there can often always be a further drop before it ascends on treatment? Used to be the same with a meter.
Which is why I don’t keep banging a lancet into my hand every 2 minutes waiting to come back up?

Jelly babies or these “Haribo sour” things which are cheaper than JBs, picked up for a quid at my local garage..
 
Jaylee said:
Jelly babies or these “Haribo sour” things which are cheaper than JBs, picked up for a quid at my local garage..
Click to expand...
EXactly what I was thinking, but was wondering if they are significantly slower than glucose.

And if I have a sudden crash to the low 3s I do fingerprick test every 2 minutes till I'm going back up
 
EllieM said:
EXactly what I was thinking, but was wondering if they are significantly slower than glucose.

And if I have a sudden crash to the low 3s I do fingerprick test every 2 minutes till I'm going back up
Click to expand...
All I know is I can treat & keep going with easy tasks at work? But then I wouldn’t, if operating machinery.
 
I stick with Lift Glucota BG s which I buy from ebay in bulk so there is little advanced planning necessary and they are significantly cheaper than buying from my local pharmacy.
I confess I am more limited with sweets as I avoid jellies due to the non vegetarian gelatin. There are veggie options available but they are often more expensive.
 
In Response said:
I confess I am more limited with sweets as I avoid jellies due to the non vegetarian gelatin. There are veggie options available but they are often more expensive.
Click to expand...
I choose my sweets carefully because if I like them I'm liable to overtreat my hypo. Plus if anyone in the house likes them they may get eaten by others.

(To be fair, if my partner knows something is for hypos he now won't touch it. I gave him a very hard time when I bough some sweets in a tin for the car, and they all got eaten, not by me).
 
Not very convenient for 'on the go treatment', but at home I often use a teaspoon of runny honey. Works well.

For a guaranteed response I use GlucoGel which I get on prescription, but I only use them in emergencies. No enjoyment. My favourite go to is Jelly Babies. Sometimes I over inject just to go low!

ONLY KIDDING!!
 
@EllieM , I’m always in danger of over treating hypos when I wake from them? Night lows. Survival instinct from when I was a kid on porcine.

Day lows, I can manage an appropriate amount. Lol, I’m too busy with my hands for anything else if at work. & during a gig I use lucozade. Though to be fair with gigs my basal is tailing off & I’ve no Novorapid onboard.. (but you’ve seen the graph on gig night.)
 
Glucogel, which is used in sport is easily carried, convenient and in a sachet, which has a certain amount to treat the hypo. You can get them from sport outlets, as for expense, no idea.

My club have them on offer every month and come in boxes sent direct from factory. They don't use sports drinks or anything else except glucogel and a supplement, but I can't remember what that is called!

It does work fast!
 
Most of the time I do, especially if I've not long had food. Definitely significantly faster if bloods are dropping fast or I've recently had food containing fat. I'd be interested to know how your experiment goes.
 
Hiya, just in case I thought I'd mention that boots do tubs of glucose lift tabs, containing 50 tabs for £3.75.
 
Hi EllieM,
Sorry to hear about your glucose problems,
I have hypos but not very often.
Morissons supermarket sells Dextrose energy glucose tablets/sweets (orange flavour). I find,within, 10 mins I'm back to "normal".
75p a pack but, quite, often £1 for two.
Best of luck.

Sent from my SM-A137F using Diabetes Forum mobile app
 
Fastest thing for me is “ full fat “ coke cola it’s the only sugar drink which didn’t have its sugar content removed when the “ heath “ bug was about , I find the liquid is absorbed quicker for me , but no matter what “quick “ acting sugar I initially take I always take a longer acting carb soon afterwards , I know some people have concerns about goin* high after hypos but getting rid of the hypo is always the goal , higher levels can be sorted when hypo is settled ,
 
Soplewis12 said:
Hiya, just in case I thought I'd mention that boots do tubs of glucose lift tabs, containing 50 tabs for £3.75.
Click to expand...
Yes, I used to buy the tubs of 50, and refill my tubes with them. (My containers for test strips are also exactly the right size for holding a smaller number of them). That's a good price, in New Zealand they are more like $20 when discounted , which is £10 .


Lamont D said:
Glucogel, which is used in sport is easily carried, convenient and in a sachet, which has a certain amount to treat the hypo. You can get them from sport outlets, as for expense, no idea.
Click to expand...
Looks like you can get them in New Zealand but I can only find one online supplier, a medical company.

Definitely feeling "supply chain" issues here (as in I'm at the end of a long one) but you've all given me some great ideas to try. I'll do some comparative tests and post the results but you'll have to be patient, as I'll need to get it all delivered and then wait for the next hypo...

Scores for
1) speed of bg rise
2) convenience of packaging
3) taste (don't want to be tempted to have more than I need but if it's too foul I may be reluctant to take it at all). Raspberry flavour glucotabs anyone?
 
Glucose gels are good for this too, get them in loads of shops because runners/endurance athletes use them!
 
You should never have to use glucose tablets! Ugh! Try jelly babies, they're easy to chew, tasty and not expensive. and quick acting.
 
Alistair Wood said:
You should never have to use glucose tablets! Ugh! Try jelly babies, they're easy to chew, tasty and not expensive.
Click to expand...
Which was the very reason when I was on hypo inducing meds I used glucose tabs - everything else including jelly babies were just too tasty and tempting
 
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