Quick snacks for hypoglycemia

LorahPorter
LorahPorter Posts: 1 Member
in Food and Nutrition

Hey all, I'm new here and was looking for some convenient choices for when I get a blood sugar drop. I haven't been diagnosed or anything, but I've had a few bouts of hypoglycemia in the past few months and am starting a weight loss journey to get my health under control. Looking for quick, low-cal snacks to help if I have a drop. Preferably something I can store in a small purse.

Replies

  • COGypsy
    COGypsy Posts: 1,472 Member

    Candy. Whatever kind you like, but chocolate isn't likely to work as quickly as a more fruit flavored kind. It's the quickest way to get your blood sugar back up in a crisis. A lot of diabetics carry candy for just this reason. This is a great time of year to stock up on "fun size" packages to keep handy.

  • springlering62
    springlering62 Posts: 10,232 Member

    Chimes Ginger Chews. Soft, spicy hot and sweet. 15 calories apiece.

    I do an hour of personal training or group cardio four mornings a week, followed by at least a mile of swimming laps.

    Sometimes I get a little wombly, so I keep a wrapped chew parked at the end of the lap lane. If that feeling comes over me, I just pop it in my mouth and let it melt, while I switch over to backstroke.

    Can easily last fifteen minutes if i don’t chew it, and can feel myself revive within a lap or two.

    At 15 calories, one of the only foods I don’t bother to log. I figure if I’m flagging that badly, I can afford the 15 calories.

    I don’t keep a fistful in my bag, though. Otherwise I’d scarf them all. So only carry four or five at a time, and “take one as needed”, which is max two per day.

  • claireychn074
    claireychn074 Posts: 1,914 Member

    Dried fruit, jelly babies or glucose tablets are my go-to, or Lucazade Sports. What you might want to think about though is your food timing / food mix. Quick release carbs can cause a spike then drop in blood sugar, so pairing them with protein / fat can help to stop the drop (think cheese with crackers, boiled egg, high protein yoghurt). Sometimes the hypo can be due to your timing or food choice and in that case, quick release carbs can set you up for a see saw effect!

  • springlering62
    springlering62 Posts: 10,232 Member

    ^^^true, though I hadn’t really thought about it that way.

    I have a large, high protein breakfast, usual 450-550 calories and 35-45gr protein.

    Yes, I supplement a couple times a week with that ginger chew, but I’ve typically done about 4 move ring turns by the time I do, so at that point I’ve far “out burned” the breakfast calories.

    The first thing I do when I get home is make a nourishing, high protein lunch- even if it’s only 11 am or so. Usually something simple. Today will be 6oz of cubed chicken, browned in a dry pan, hit with a little honey buffalo sauce (15cal/tbsp and my latest obsession) at the very end, then poured on a carb smart wrap. It’s a tasty, fast protein punch for about 252 calories.

    Steady protein intake has been a game changer for me.

    Keeping up with and monitoring your food diary will help you learn where your ups and downs are, and hopefully help identify the causes. The data I’ve accumulated by logging diligently has been super helpful on the day, and also as a resource to look back to.

  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,782 Member

    Consuming the food that actually contributes the most to hypoglycemia is exactly what the ADA says to do, so consume those fast absorbing sugars but hopefully not enough to put you into another hypoglycemic event, fingers crossed.😉

  • sollyn23l2
    sollyn23l2 Posts: 2,138 Member
    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/comment/48770516#Comment_48770516

    Funny how if you go to an emergency room with hypoglycemia they give you straight glucose in water to raise your blood sugar back to normal.... huh.…funny how they... you know.... save people's lives doing that.... huh.

  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,782 Member
    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/comment/48771891#Comment_48771891

    No, it's not funny and I did say that it's recommended to consume fast absorbing sugar. lol.

  • sollyn23l2
    sollyn23l2 Posts: 2,138 Member
    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/comment/48771912#Comment_48771912

    Sure you did. In a snide "I know better than them" way.

  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,782 Member
    edited September 21
    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/comment/48772044#Comment_48772044

    Facts don't care about your feelings. There is a difference between emergency treatment protocols and long-term metabolic strategy where if not addressed properly leads to additional medication including injections especially if those same authorities believe diabetes is a progressive disease with no cure. Gummy bears are not a long term strategy, in my opinion of course.

  • sollyn23l2
    sollyn23l2 Posts: 2,138 Member
    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/comment/48772131#Comment_48772131

    I actually happen to agree with you that yes, long term glucose control is best managed through other strategies. That's just not what I was referring to.

  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,782 Member

    Most of what I have to say around here is generally ignored and even though it didn't meet your idea of acceptable speech, I just want to thank you for engaging anyway. I did it again, didn't I. Ciao

  • sollyn23l2
    sollyn23l2 Posts: 2,138 Member
    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/comment/48772185#Comment_48772185

    I think we can all end up feeling ignored on here sometimes. It's unfortunate, especially when we put time and thought into our responses.

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