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Milk and Hypoglycaemia

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Aubergenie

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I'm hoping this is the right place to post.

I am a staff nurse, along side being a diabetic (it was mainly this that lead me to be a nurse.) A collegue and I are having an argument currently about diabetes management, and I was wondering what others think about the (apparently contraversial) issue of milk as a treatment of hypoglycaemia.

My view: In tea, fine, but as a drink by itself, No. I have been informed by many a professional that giving milk to a hypoglycaemic patient is not a good idea as it limits the body's absorbtion of sugar.I personally believe that it is easier to manage a hyperglycaemia than constantly raise BSL from below 4.0mmol/l

His view: Milk is the only way to respond to a BSL of 3.5mmol/l or above. It contains fats and proteins that sugar alone doesn't, and with that in mind, the patient doesn't have to be given anything to eat along side a sugary, milky drink.

Thanks in advance.
 
Milk doesnt have much effect on my levels so surely in treatment it would be best to use glucose tabs or another source of suger instead of milk. In tea fine while accompanied by a biscuit or something else. But i dont really have a clue sorry. :oops:
 
Per volume of liquid I think there are better hypo treatments out there than milk. I also like to be very accurate (carb wise) in my treatment of hypos, and know exactly what a small (150ml) can of something fizzy contains. It's instant, doesn't require measuring out so I keep a handy supply.

After one of my first ever hypos that required an ambulance, I remember being given a glass of milk at A&E which I promptly spat out all over the nurse - I've never liked the taste of it on it's own and in my uninhibited state...!
 
The ADA gives milk as a hypo remedy.
I think it depends upon the hypo, I wouldn't use it for a fast dropping hypo, nor one at bedtime and certainly not a very low figure, for these I would use dextrose or a sugary drink in defined quantities.
However, in practice, because I tend to keep my levels fairly low I often use milk to raise a mild hypo without really thinking about it. For example I have a cup of coffee in a cafe after shopping at the market. By that time I am almost always mildly hypo but know that the milk in the coffee (here it comes as an expresso with a small jug of milk) raises my bg levels just enough for the hour or so until lunch.
 
The accepted treatment in the UK for mild to moderate Hypoglycaemia is to take some rapid acting Glucose such as : 150ml of fresh Fruit Juice or Lucozade or ordinary sugary drinks such as Coke/Pepsi or Lemonade (not the diet varieties). OR 3 or more Jelly Babies or Dextrose Tablets OR 1-2 teaspoons of Jam or Honey.

Within a few minutes this should raise your Bg levels. Test after 15-20 mins to see that the levels are back to 'normal.' If not then repeat the procedure and check every 15 minutes until they are. Then if it is a long time before your next meal eat a small carby snack to stabilise the levels.

Speaking personally Milk is not fast acting enough for me, I have to use GlucTabs/Dextrose to get levels back up from around two+, nothing else works as quick. As Phoenix says, great as a pick me up for when I am low (3.9 or so), especially in a Milky Coffee........ :D

There are also people who take certain drugs where it would not work using Milk:
People who take either of these diabetes medications Acarbose (Precose) or Miglitol (Glyset) should know that only pure glucose, also called dextrose—available in tablet or gel form—will raise their blood glucose level during a low blood glucose episode. Other quick-fix foods and drinks won’t raise the level quickly enough because acarbose and miglitol slow the digestion of other forms of carbohydrate.

Ken
 
As my child is the diabetic and diagnosed at 8 months I could say that I would be quite happy to use milk for lowish levels in the wee hours of the morning or afternoon 4ish levels. I wouldn't use milk at a time when fast acting insulin was the cause of the hypo. I do find it lifts levels fairly quickly but it wouldn't be my first choice as a hypo treatment. When Khaleb has been sick and not eating I've found it necessary to put sugar or glucose powder in his milk. The milk I buy only has about 5gm carb per 100ml so the volume required to treat a hypo would not make it practical. When Khaleb was still on baby formula (high carb & high GI) I found it very difficult to manage his blood sugars and switched to cows milk.
 
About 25 years ago, whilst attending a diabetes check-up, I had my bloods taken and waited outside in the waiting area to be called in by the consultant. During this time I had a really bad hypo, sweating and shakey, and as I had nothing to hand I told the nurse in the clinic. The nurse came out with a big glass of milk and some rich tea biscuits, which I consumed in record time.

Now, it may have been that particular nurses decision alone to use the milk as a hypo treatment (perhaps nothing else was available?) I don't know, but I'll admit that it did bring me back to the land of the living. That said, what Cugila has said in his reply is the recommendation for the treatment of hypo's, and one which I use myself.

I wouldn't recommend using milk as a hypo remedy, far better to stick with the mainstream advice to be safe and sure.

Nigel
 
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