Low Blood sugar for Type 1 diabetics or diabetics in general

[GSORob 1]

I'm a Type 1 diabetic. I haven't been scheduled yet for my lap-band surgery, but the major concern I have is what do I do now to counter a low-blood sugar particularly in the middle of the night. Usually when this happens for me, I feel hungy as well as feeling weak and having the "shakes". I would normally have to have a can of soda and either a chocolate bar or handful of M&Ms to feel right again. Obviously after the surgery I won't be able to take that approach. What do some of you out there do for lows? I know they have those chewable glucose tablets, but they only have 4g of sugar I think. The way I sometimes panic for a 2am low, I'd be having to eat a ton of those little things.

[wAs 0]

I'm a type II diabetic - I had a similar concern with lows. My doctor recommended that I drink low-fat milk. The sugar content is fairly high, but so is the Protein content.

I'm a Type 1 diabetic. I haven't been scheduled yet for my lap-band surgery, but the major concern I have is what do I do now to counter a low-blood sugar particularly in the middle of the night. Usually when this happens for me, I feel hungy as well as feeling weak and having the "shakes". I would normally have to have a can of soda and either a chocolate bar or handful of M&Ms to feel right again. Obviously after the surgery I won't be able to take that approach. What do some of you out there do for lows? I know they have those chewable glucose tablets, but they only have 4g of sugar I think. The way I sometimes panic for a 2am low, I'd be having to eat a ton of those little things.

[ElfiePoo 109]

I used to have horrible hypoglycemic attacks...bad enough that I wore a Med ID Bracelet. My doctor said to eat Protein (an ounce or two of cheese was the best) because it would help raise my blood sugar levels slowly and without the body producing a rush of insulin. However, the reason for the hypoglycemia and response is difference for someone who still produces insulin vs someone who doesn't. Someone still producing insulin has to watch how they raise that blood sugar level or risk overstimulating the production of yet more insulin.

My understanding of Type I is that low blood sugar is a result of too much insulin being given in relation to what the body actually needed (also affected by stress, etc.). I have a couple friends who are Type I and they were told to drink a small glass of orange juice because it would more readily absorb that extra insulin.

My .02...I would make an appointment with your endocrinologist or whoever handles your diabetes...and one with the diabetic NUT. They will be your best resource for how to handle your low blood sugar problems.

.

[cwm812 11]

I'm the mom of a Type I diabetic and I've been treating my son's nightime lows for years. The glucose tabs work well because they are pretty much just glucose and get absorbed right away. The best part is you can keep them right by your bed and grab a 4-5 of them without even getting up. After you start feeling a little better, you can get up and make yourself something else. If you really don't like the tabs, any kind of juice can work well. If you buy the little cans or bottles, you can keep them by your bed, too. They'll be warm, but when my son is low..he really doesn't care.

You are right, soda is not an option, but you're still going to need the sugar to get your blood sugar back up. Milk does work, but it takes longer than the tabs and fruit juice. Another option is cake icing. We've never used it much, but it was always recommended by the nutritionist. If you are having a hard time eating for whatever reason, the gel cake icing can get absorbed in your cheeks and will raise your blood sugar, too. If i remember correctly, one of the tubes of icing has 15 g of carbs.

On a side note...if you are able to manage your Type I diabetes, I suspect you will have great success with your band. That disease doesn't allow anyone to ignore their health or their symptoms. It makes you listen to your body.

Cindy

[suzahhn 19]

I'm a Type 1 diabetic. I haven't been scheduled yet for my lap-band surgery, but the major concern I have is what do I do now to counter a low-blood sugar particularly in the middle of the night. Usually when this happens for me, I feel hungy as well as feeling weak and having the "shakes". I would normally have to have a can of soda and either a chocolate bar or handful of M&Ms to feel right again. Obviously after the surgery I won't be able to take that approach. What do some of you out there do for lows? I know they have those chewable glucose tablets, but they only have 4g of sugar I think. The way I sometimes panic for a 2am low, I'd be having to eat a ton of those little things.

I'm a type 1 on the pump getting banded 1/31/11. I had the same concerns but what will happen is you will drop your rates significantly during the liquid diet and even run high in order to prevent lows during the first few months. During the operation, my Endo has me having my pump at 75%. I worried about the same thing! But, my endocrinologist and surgeon want me to be running in the 150's-200's for now.

[GSORob 1]

I'm a type 1 on the pump getting banded 1/31/11. I had the same concerns but what will happen is you will drop your rates significantly during the liquid diet and even run high in order to prevent lows during the first few months. During the operation, my Endo has me having my pump at 75%. I worried about the same thing! But, my endocrinologist and surgeon want me to be running in the 150's-200's for now.

Thanks for everyone's suggestions. I will be seeing my primary care doc who is also an endocrinologist in February, and we will discuss what approach I should take. I know when I was on the Nutrisystem diet 18 months ago I reduced my daily insulin by almost 50%. I'm sure it will be reduced quite a bit more before and after the surgery. It will be nice not having to change my pump cartridge every night for a change.

[suzahhn 19]

I know what you mean, I was changing it every other day and now I'm down to 50 units a day. I know it will change once I eat but for now I'm pleased. I had my surgery today and ran about 220 and everything went fantastic.