What do you use most often/like best for a low food? I find myself falling back on the same stuff all the time, simply because I'm used to it.
Well, I KNOW juice or glucose pills are what I should have. I want (and often) have chocolate. I use low as an excuse to eat the forbidden stuff a lot. I'm on a candy corn kick right now. Figure it's a happy medium- candy and yummy, but no fat to slow it down like chocolate, there mostly straight sugar. Problem is I'm nibbling on them way too often!
You?
Like you, I'll also try to eat the forbidden foods sometimes, though I don't much like candy. But I've recently fallen in love with sugar in the raw. Three packets has fifteen carbs, and it's like eating candy. When I'm riding my bike a lot, I carry packets in my bag because they're light and easy access.
I carry the watermellon flavored glucose tablets. As it turns out, my son likes them more than I do, so if I am low and low on supplies I have a screaming toddler bawling "taaaaaabletssss" *sob* - This works out nicely as passers by see me stealing candy from a sobbing child... ;)
I'm known as the Starburst girl. Every single bag and jean pocket i own has a whole bunch of starbursts so I can just pop them in when I'm low. To stick with the rule of 15, I eat 4 of them and do the whole drill. However, if it's during the night I drink milk since at these times it's much more effective for me than juice ....
I to am on a candy kick, but I usually have a spoonful of peanut butter with it!!! Good protein!!!!!!
Skittles fun sized packets! They are the perfect amount and they're easy to carry around
i usually use air heads
Normal every day lows at home I use orange juice. I always have some glucotabs in my car, in my bags, in my desk.
For cycling lows, a packet of skittles. There are a few of us on the team with type 1, and we are all known to bust open a pack of skittles and consume them all in less than three minutes. I NEVER eat skittles if I'm not on a bike. :-)
Ellie on the other hand... her "fix" is vanilla frosting. We had a hard time finding things for a fix for her because she does not like fruit or anything fruit flavored. We have tubs of vanilla frosting everywhere.
I usually use OJ or milk. OJ is easier to carry around since it doesn't "go bad" at room temperature but I get more rebounds with OJ since it doesn't have any protein and then I'm low again an hour or two later. I got into using milk becuase I had a doctor recommend it. I usually drink 8-10 ounces and it has about 15 carbs (which is perfect for my lows) and also has protein so I don't have to worry about rebound. And since it's not full of sugar it won't over-correct me. The only downside to milk is (like I said) I can't carry it everywhere and also it takes a little longer to relieve my low symptoms. I'm prett good about not eating junk when I'm low but it happens every now and then. ;-)
Wow- your good Layne! All that stuff about protein, rebounding, overtreating, all makes perfect sense, but chocolate here I go! :)
But- I wanted to suggest something that might help you, Horizon organic milk is sold in boxes (like juice boxes), with a straw. Somehow it doesn't have to be refridgerated until opening and is 8 ounces. I got them for my son so he can have his post dinner, pre bedtime milk on the go and they're perfect!
I just got the package to tell you exactly, here's what they say. "..single serve milks are convenient and easy to take on-the-go! That's because our special packaging keeps milk fresh at room temperature. Refriderate after opening. Chill before serving." (I don't chill before serving, depends on if you care I suppose!). Yay, maybe they'll find a new way to market them now and I'll get commission! :)
When my sugar is low I usually take a dab of honey and rub it on my cheeks! It really works!! Or if my sugar is 80~70 i will drink jucie
[quote user="Rachel"]
But- I wanted to suggest something that might help you, Horizon organic milk is sold in boxes (like juice boxes), with a straw. Somehow it doesn't have to be refridgerated until opening and is 8 ounces.
[/quote]
Sounds great! Thanks for the tip!
I carry around packets of fruit snacks, one packet is 22g of carbs.
At home I have some small bottles of cranberry juice(not a big fan of OJ)
That Horizon stuff is great! I take it on camping trips all the time, and then have to take extra because everyone wants to share.
Juice boxes work for me. They hold about 30 carbs, in case I need that many, but I can drink about half or sip on it and it usually works.
If I wake up at night extremely low, all bets are off. I've sat at the kitchen table at 3 am before stuffing countless sticky handfulls of cereal or chips into my mouth and washing it all down with cranberry juice until I feel like I'm going to explode. Very bad highs follow! Now I'm trying to keep juice boxes by my bed and then go back to sleep. Fortunately I don't go that low often.
I used to do glucose tabs, and later, smarties. Those also were hard for me to keep track of when I was treating a low.
Basically I need something that is pre-packaged so I don't have to think or be disciplined in terms of portion control. That's really hard for me when treating lows. Part of it is that I get really symptomatic with fast heart beat and shaking and also anxiety that I want it to be over with as fast as possible.
Payton,
Yeah - wow - loud and clear on the wanting to eat until the symptoms go away. I've really only had a ½ dozen years or so years of being really good at "4-5 tabs and stop" for a 44 and wait until it goes away. I'm actually better disciplined in my 30's and 40's. When I have a low 50 I will think, oh, I'll just have a tab... you know - maybe I could have a cracker, I can get away with a sip of milk, maybe a ½ a cookie... before I know it I'm bolusing to keep up, LOL.
Cheers,
A-D
It's so refreshing to talk to people who know what a low feels like! :)
Graham crackers and peanut butter! It tastes good and has sugar and protein.
Apple juice is good too. (=
all these "low foods" sound so much better than what i normally eat - at home 2-8 oz. of lemonade or ice tea and elsewhere glucose tabs :P i usually eat some kind of more sustaining snack too, especially at night. plain sugar is good. a year or 2 ago i used that...but in the middle of the night i always reach for the glucose tabs next to my bed unconsciously when i feel really low.