insulin dependent diabetes answers

honeyrose25
honeyrose25 Posts: 24
edited December 24 in Health and Weight Loss
hi guys, i wonder if people can help me.
My mum has asked me to help her in her quest of losing weight. She's 55, has a bad knee 16 stone and has insulin dependent diabetes. She was diabetic before the weight.
Im trying to sort out her food. she isnt one for large portion sizes. infact at times she eats less than my two year old neice. she doesnt eat lots of bad foods either. The thing I need help with is the hypo side of things. At the moment she is reliant on orange lucozades. She trying glucose tablets but they didnt work for her and she now hates jam or lemon curd sandwiches as thats what she used to help her for 15 years. Can anyone else suggest other healthy foods that could help her when she is having a hypo.

Many thanks

Replies

  • scubachick2287
    scubachick2287 Posts: 57
    Many people will probably reply hard candies or Orange juice but any endocrinologist I have worked with has said peanut butter.

    The key to feeding hypoglycemia is to always mix complex carbohydrates with protein and a little fat. Plain carbs metabolize into sugar quickly and will cause you to feel very tired, as your body must pump out excessive insulin to manage the higher blood sugar.

    Here are some snack ideas:
    •Celery sticks with peanut butter and a few raisins


    •One slice of whole grain bread with peanut butter, low fat cheese, or lean meat (or half a sandwich)


    •A medium piece of fruit with a scant handful of nuts or a piece of beef or turkey jerky


    For emergencies you can keep nuts and raisins or other dried fruit in the car. Carry a water bottle to make sure you are well hydrated.

    ETA- See a doctor. Her sliding scale/meds may need to be adjusted.
  • ingies2011
    ingies2011 Posts: 127 Member
    When you are having a hypo you are supposed to use very easy digested sugars, preferably glucose, as it takes energy (it takes glucose for foods to be absorbed) to increase your blood sugar levels. You then wait 10 minutes, and rechck your bsl, if it is still low you have more glucose and recheck again 10 min later, till your bsls are in a normal range. Then you have a long acting slow release carb, together withvsome protein if you like, and try to work out why you had a hypo in the first place, with eating less you may need toadjust the amunt of insulin, but you should discuss this with your diabetes specialists.
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/search?phrase=diabetes

    Diabetes groups on here ^


    If these hypos are regular it sounds like an insulin overdosing / timing issue,
  • honeyrose25
    honeyrose25 Posts: 24
    thank you everyone for your help
    xx
  • jdwor
    jdwor Posts: 3
    Hi
    just over a yr ago my mum was diagnosed diabetic and was 19 st... She now has got her blood sugars level and the doctors have admitted she is no longer diabetic as her HBA1C levels are great. She has also lost over 6 st. She has just followed Patrick Holfords low GL diet and is so much healthier and happy. She has also managed to do it on a tight budget. Im not one for hard selling but we are really proud of her and it is worth looking into. Its about getting the blood sugars level so there are not so dramatic highs and lows. Weight loss is just a fab side effect. I lost nearly 2st on the diet too but it more about sugar levels. The books are really good as they describe what your body goes through (the NHS dont really explain this) and thaey are widely available online and are well worth the pennies...
    Feel free to add me to your friends list?
    Jade
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