• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Hypo goodies

Lisa69free said:
Most glucose tablets are chewable so my dentures won't break them down fast enough. I will try the honey suggestion or ooh maple syrup. That would be ideal medicine wouldn't it?
Click to expand...

Hi there, you can also get it in a liquid form, comes in a small tube.
 
Lisa69free said:
So if they are not chewable, how are they fast acting? I've seen them in Morrisons. A little tube with 10 in. So do you just suck them?
Click to expand...
I don’t suck, I just crunch them.
They are of the same consistency as Refreshers without the fizz.

I tend to buy them in bulk from eBay and decant into the tubes I bought years ago.
The tubes are so old they have Glucotabs written on the side. Hence my confusion regarding the new name of Lift.

Personally, I would avoid honey and maple syrup as it would be difficult to accurately dose and not suitable for carrying around with me.
But we are all different.
 
If you look for energy gels used by cyclists, you'll find an astoundingly broad range. Glucose content from 10g to 30g, consistency from liquid to gooey, and some peculiar flavours (salted watermelon anyone?). Small, easy to carry packaging, but can be bought in bulk when you find an ideal type.
 
In Response said:
I don’t suck, I just crunch them.
They are of the same consistency as Refreshers without the fizz.

I tend to buy them in bulk from eBay and decant into the tubes I bought years ago.
The tubes are so old they have Glucotabs written on the side. Hence my confusion regarding the new name of Lift.

Personally, I would avoid honey and maple syrup as it would be difficult to accurately dose and not suitable for carrying around with me.
But we are all different.
Click to expand...


Yes I need something I can drink or a powder really. That's why I thought of sherbet. Can't crunch anything with dentures. Jelly babies are soft enough but still stick to dentures. Hard sweets I could only suck so wouldn't break down fast enough. I think sherbet would be more pleasurable. Could measure out into old test strip tubs lol and syrup I could possibly put in my coffee? Ooh flavour syrups that go in coffee maybe an idea
 
Seacrow said:
If you look for energy gels used by cyclists, you'll find an astoundingly broad range. Glucose content from 10g to 30g, consistency from liquid to gooey, and some peculiar flavours (salted watermelon anyone?). Small, easy to carry packaging, but can be bought in bulk when you find an ideal type.
Click to expand...


Yes just seen them. Still expensive though but handy for a quick fix at work
 
Hi @Lisa69free ,

Use whatever works for you. Some hypos like a basal low with no fast acting insulin on board may need a follow up with longer acting carbs to stop a possible recurrence? Milk can help after whatever you can chew..
I know Lucozade can keep my comming back for more with later lows on the wrong basal dose..though I wouldn't want to folow Lucozade with milk. Usually a biscuit.. Like a digestive? (Old school but still can work.)
The trick is a fast appropriate fix then enablement to progress fromthere with the management.. :)

Personally, as long as I'm treating the low. I know I'm going to be OK. Sometimes the mad rush from some of the suggested can be as bad as the actual low for me? Somehow feels to longer recover..
 
Jaylee said:
Hi @Lisa69free ,

Use whatever works for you. Some hypos like a basal low with no fast acting insulin on board may need a follow up with longer acting carbs to stop a possible recurrence? Milk can help after whatever you can chew..
I know Lucozade can keep my comming back for more with later lows on the wrong basal dose..though I wouldn't want to folow Lucozade with milk. Usually a biscuit.. Like a digestive? (Old school but still can work.)
The trick is a fast appropriate fix then enablement to progress fromthere with the management.. :)

Personally, as long as I'm treating the low. I know I'm going to be OK. Sometimes the mad rush from some of the suggested can be as bad as the actual low for me? Somehow feels to longer recover..
Click to expand...


Chewing is difficult. Can't even manage a biscuit unless it's dunked in my tea lol. I've been fine today. Even managed supper of almond butter on toast 3 hours ago and I'm at a nice 6.3. I will stop pre bolus at work though. I can't guarantee not being held up on a long call. Only have half hour lunch too. My eating times in the week are very far between. Breakfast at 6.30 and lunch at 1pm if I can get off the phone.
 
Lisa69free said:
Chewing is difficult. Can't even manage a biscuit unless it's dunked in my tea lol. I've been fine today. Even managed supper of almond butter on toast 3 hours ago and I'm at a nice 6.3. I will stop pre bolus at work though. I can't guarantee not being held up on a long call. Only have half hour lunch too. My eating times in the week are very far between. Breakfast at 6.30 and lunch at 1pm if I can get off the phone.
Click to expand...

You know after eating some quick carbs you may have bought time to boil the kettle.. :)
I quite often grab a coffee.

I've done face to face customer service in the past. (Still do to a degree.) I know where you are coming from.. There is is always one.... Two, or quite a few.. ;)
 
Antje77 said:
Not all that easy with dentures, especially if they have been laying about for a bit.
Click to expand...
Unlike Dexcom, Lift come on plastic tubes which seal well so the tabs do not go hard.
And when I say "crunch" it is chalky crunch not nutty crunch.

I guess you only know if they suit you if you try them. Not having dentures, I have no experience of the challenges.
 
In Response said:
Unlike Dexcom, Lift come on plastic tubes which seal well so the tabs do not go hard.
And when I say "crunch" it is chalky crunch not nutty crunch.

I guess you only know if they suit you if you try them. Not having dentures, I have no experience of the challenges.
Click to expand...


My dentures are a bad fit and I've had them since March and not been able to eat anything that is not easy to break down. Hoping when I go to the dentist end of the month for them to be realigned, they'll be better. Can just about manage to eat a sandwich but couldn't eat crusty bread. I miss steak

Lots of options and thanks everyone for taking the time to reply x
 
Hi
Generally i'm quite sensitive to insulin so if my levels are right before meal time then i eat and take insulin after finishing my meal.
This also gives me the option to choose how much i eat.
Its just an option that works for me.

Do your work colleagues know how to deal with a wobbly diabetic?

I wish you well

Tony
 
Tony337 said:
Hi
Generally i'm quite sensitive to insulin so if my levels are right before meal time then i eat and take insulin after finishing my meal.
This also gives me the option to choose how much i eat.
Its just an option that works for me.

Do your work colleagues know how to deal with a wobbly diabetic?

I wish you well

Tony
Click to expand...
Yes I used to dose after food but found pre bolus worked better for me as it's not really fast acting so gives it a head start. I can't do that at work no more though. Yes there is another type 1 colleague here so he knows how to deal with it and I'm sure first aiders have been made aware
 
The advice from the “ professionals” where I am recommend the 15 , 15, 15 rule for hypos , that’s 15 g of fast acting carbs ! Wait 15 minutes , then 15 g of longer acting carbs , sounds feasible , but as we all know sometimes the real thing isn’t as easy, I will say I have tried it and it does work … sometimes , in answer to the original q, I use the mini cans of Coke Cola ! They contain exactly 15 g of fast acting carbs ! And there’s not a lot to drink ,and I’ve found personally it does raise my sugars really quickly! Which let’s face it is the most important thing , to be honest some hypos can be the contents of the fridge as one of my symptoms is incredible hunger ! And at that point in time I’m not bothered what my blood sugar is going to raise to I just treat it after , but generally I always take a long acting carb after a quick acting one as it doesn’t take long for the fast acting carb to disappear and I’m back in the same boat but as with diabetes tomorrow it could be different .
 
Ushthetaff said:
The advice from the “ professionals” where I am recommend the 15 , 15, 15 rule for hypos , that’s 15 g of fast acting carbs ! Wait 15 minutes , then 15 g of longer acting carbs , sounds feasible , but as we all know sometimes the real thing isn’t as easy, I will say I have tried it and it does work … sometimes , in answer to the original q, I use the mini cans of Coke Cola ! They contain exactly 15 g of fast acting carbs ! And there’s not a lot to drink ,and I’ve found personally it does raise my sugars really quickly! Which let’s face it is the most important thing , to be honest some hypos can be the contents of the fridge as one of my symptoms is incredible hunger ! And at that point in time I’m not bothered what my blood sugar is going to raise to I just treat it after , but generally I always take a long acting carb after a quick acting one as it doesn’t take long for the fast acting carb to disappear and I’m back in the same boat but as with diabetes tomorrow it could be different .
Click to expand...
Thanks, very helpful. I'll get some mini cans. I've been a little on the high side since though. Honeymoon phase throwing spanners in lol
 
Lisa69free said:
Thanks, very helpful. I'll get some mini cans. I've been a little on the high side since though. Honeymoon phase throwing spanners in lol
Click to expand...
Yeah does tend to do that, but it will get better I can assure you ,
 
In Response said:
I use GlucoTabs. They are not chewable but neither are they what I would describe as “goodies”. They do their job, are not likely to be taken by anyone else in the house as treats, come in reusable plastic tubes and are standard size so I know how many to take to treat a hypo.

Sometimes, when I am at home, I may have dried fruit such as apricots.
Click to expand...
The plastic tubes the GlucoTabs come in I just fill up with glucose powder and if out on a walk and feel low just take a swig of the powder , I've had the same two tubes for years now so doing my bit to save the planet as well .
 
jaywak said:
The plastic tubes the GlucoTabs come in I just fill up with glucose powder and if out on a walk and feel low just take a swig of the powder , I've had the same two tubes for years now so doing my bit to save the planet as well .
Click to expand...
Don't get any caught under your nose. Might get people talking :joyful:
 
Lisa69free said:
This yesterday. Tested at 12 and was a (UK) decent 6.4 then took my daily shot and pre bolus 6 units. Got caught up on a lengthy call at work and within an hour dropped to this. I had to leave the customer and sort myself. I can't pre bolus at work no more. During the week, getting 2s. Today has been good.
Click to expand...
Hi Lisa69free,
This has also caused me problems at work, which on most occasions have taken more time to resolve, than prevent in the first place!
Depending on situation, as soon as I've taken a pre-meal bolus, I will normally set a 15 minute alarm on my phone to eat. 15 minutes can run to 30 mins easily and be away before you know it.
It sounds like a good plan to have a can of coke at the ready, just incase.
I am lucky enough to still be able to eat jelly babies as my hypo treatment, but I haven't been able to get the Lidl ones for ages (Lidl ones are my favorite as they don't taste as sweet as Maynards).
I too do the 15g, 15 minutes..... routine, it works for me.
Good luck with finding your hypo treatment, Dib-dabs! Amazing. My kids are getting bored with jelly babies everywhere!
All the best
 
Back
Top