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Low-carb hypo stop

lizdeluz

lizdeluz

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,306
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I expect this has been discussed elsewhere but I had a quick search and didn't find anything: does anyone have advice on treating hypos when you're doing low-carb?
 
I don't think it's any different is it? I guess it's important not to go crazy with the carbs as you would then blow ketosis. But the normal advice of take 8-12g carb, wait, test, repeat - that would still apply I think?

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The whole point of low carb is that you consume as little as possible. If you experience hypos frequently, you need to reduce your insulin to match your carbs. If you need to correct a hypo which is happening, you'll need some carbs to do it. If you do have to use a carb tro correct hypo, you may end up in a blood glucose yo-yo. I don't use any medication, which causes hypo, but my T1 husband does and he's reduced his insulin by more than a half over the last years, during which we've seriously reduced our carb intake.
Prevention is better than cure. Hana
 
My experience on the best way to treat hypos on low carb is to treat the hypos as quickly as possible and not to over-treat the hypo.

The advantage of low carb is that you should find that hypos are not as aggressive as they may be on a higher carb diet (given that you have reduced your insulin to account for the lower carb intake).

I treat hypos with glucose tablets because I find it's the quickest acting and the tablets mean you can be confident in knowing how much sugar you're having, meaning you're less likely to over-treat the hypo.

If possible, as Hana notes, it's ideal if you can prevent the hypos happening -something I know is easier said than done sometimes.
 
lizdeluz said:
I expect this has been discussed elsewhere but I had a quick search and didn't find anything: does anyone have advice on treating hypos when you're doing low-carb?
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Teaspoon of honey. I low carb and that's what the NHS helpline told my husband to give me when I low hypod. Are you t1 or t2? If t1 you may need to see your doc to get your meds adjusted.
 
Scandichic said:
Teaspoon of honey. I low carb and that's what the NHS helpline told my husband to give me when I low hypod. Are you t1 or t2? If t1 you may need to see your doc to get your meds adjusted.
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Oops I can't read.
 
Hypos still need to be treated with glucose. If you get the ratios correct, you can largely do away with hypos. However, I find if I exercise in the afternoon, I need to take dextrose tablets to maintain my blood sugars. Small and often is the key here. Depending on what I am doing and for how long, I take 0.5 to 1 dextrose tablet every 15 minutes. Thanks to the dawn phenomenon, I don't need to do this in the morning if I exercise, and sometimes even need a small dose of insulin to keep things stable.
This method is advised by Dr Bernstein in his complete solution to diabetes book, in the chapter on exercise.
 
Some artisan produced honeys are actually quite low on the glycemic index because of the fructose content. One of those wouldn't be a good thing for a hypo .
Commercial honey has a GI nearer that of sugar. A tablespoon of honey or sugar is about 15g of carb which is the normal recommended amount .

I'm not a low carber but I also use glucose/dextrose tablets. It's fast easily measured and I hate the taste/texture so take it in a medicinal fashion.
I normally use far less than 15g carbs worth for most hypos but that's my metabolism.
(indeed, I'm no follower of Bernstein but on walks and runs I just drip feed them as my glucose level falls to around hypo level)
 
Oh, and it's best to use a form of glucose you won't crave. I see dextrose tablets as a medication rather than a sweet. I don't crave them, and can just take them as needed to maintain my blood sugars. However, if I was to answer my exercise with a donut, the local press would soon stop reporting about the poor financial performance of Krispy Kreme in my city.
 
phoenix said:
Some artisan produced honeys are actually quite low on the glycemic index because of the fructose content. One of those wouldn't be a good thing for a hypo .
Commercial honey has a GI nearer that of sugar. A tablespoon of honey or sugar is about 15g of carb which is the normal recommended amount .

I'm not a low carber but I also use glucose/dextrose tablets. It's fast easily measured and I hate the taste/texture so take it in a medicinal fashion.
I normally use far less than 15g carbs worth for most hypos but that's my metabolism.
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Wow, talk about being on the same wavelength!
 
lizdeluz said:
I expect this has been discussed elsewhere but I had a quick search and didn't find anything: does anyone have advice on treating hypos when you're doing low-carb?
Click to expand...

You would treat the hypo just the same as someone who doesn't low-carb.
 
Thank you all very much, your advice is really helpful and appreciated. I've had 2 hypos recently and will probably try adjusting basal. I tend to use glucose tablets to correct. They aren't pleasant and that's a reminder to myself to achieve better control - if I can!
I was surprised when I read Dr Bernstein's advice to use glucose tablets if you wake up hypo in the morning - to bring your blood sugar up to an acceptable level before medicating for breakfast. It seems counter-intuitive when you could just go and eat breakfast! However, I can see that you've got to keep returning to a healthy level and stop the yo-yo effect.
Many thanks again!
 
Spiker said:
Yeah but how many carbs do you think there are in Dr Bernstein's breakfast? He probably has about 2g of carbs if that! :)/QUOTE].
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Quite true Spiker........hence why he says to have glucotabs first.

I find glucotabs chalky and unpleasant to eat so treat hypo's using Jelly Babies, they work just as well and you can pick them up in discount shops for under a £1 a bag
 
noblehead said:
Quite true Spiker........hence why he says to have glucotabs first.

I find glucotabs chalky and unpleasant to eat so treat hypo's using Jelly Babies, they work just as well and you can pick them up in discount shops for under a £1 a bag
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I couldn't eat a Jelly baby. I'd have to eat him and all his mates as well.:angelic:

I'm short of common sense when hypo.:nurse:;)
 
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Spiker said:
My point basically was that unlike most of us, he can't use his breakfast to recover from a morning low (which was the suggestion made earlier in the thread).
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Even 6g carb wouldn't be enough to treat a hypo, I suppose. My meter always tells me to eat 12g and retest.
I eat about 6g carb for breakfast as a general rule, following Bernstein's regime. Sometimes I have to eat 12g of glucose tablets first to get up to the 'normal range' setting of 4 which I decided was as low as I should go.

Sorry if this sounds like crazy stuff. :)
 
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