How to Treat a Low Blood Sugar (Without Eating Everything in Sight)

We’ve all been within the place of getting a foul low blood sugar, the place all you need to do is eat every part in sight. There’s no reasoning with your self. It’s like a demon has hijacked your self-control!

It makes excellent sense–your physique simply needs to get your blood sugar again as much as a secure degree, and it’s doing its greatest to make sure that the low is corrected.

However consuming your weight in carbs is simply going to lead to excessive blood sugar, after which you’re coping with the other drawback. What’s an individual with diabetes to do?

Initially, repair the low. Get your blood glucose degree above 70 mg/dl (4 mmol/L).

It’s greatest to make use of a dextrose-based therapy, like glucose tablets or gel, to get the BG as much as a secure degree. Utilizing one thing excessive glycemic index is essential if you end up very low and must shortly elevate the blood glucose, particularly when you’ve got loads of insulin on board.

Watch out to deal with with the correct quantity of carb, versus over-treating.

• If you happen to weigh lower than 60 lbs, a gram of carb will elevate your BG about 6 factors.
• If you happen to weigh 100-160 lbs, a gram of carb ought to elevate your BG about 4 factors.
• If you happen to weigh 160-220 lbs, a gram of carb may elevate you 3 factors.

And provides the carbohydrates 15-20 minutes to lift the BG. Do a follow-up fingerstick as a result of there’s a lag time with CGM sensors, and the BG you get with a fingerstick might be a extra correct reflection of your response to your therapy. If you’re nonetheless low, repeat the therapy.

I bear in mind a low the place I munched my means by the pantry, and I uncared for to rely my carbs as I used to be doing it. I had completely no concept how a lot to bolus for! Boy, did I be taught my lesson.

I by no means did that once more – I’ve all the time made certain to carb rely and take insulin to cowl no matter I eat that’s in extra of what I wanted to do to regulate the low blood glucose ranges. Generally expertise is the most effective trainer.

I used to be driving once I had the worst low I’ve ever had. Thank God I had glucose gel within the middle console and glucose tablets on my key chain. I used to be sucking down the gel as I used to be pulling off the highway.

Ordinarily, I might have needed to eat (and eat and eat) after that. However I needed to sit in my automotive and look ahead to my BG to return up, so meals wasn’t available. And are you aware what? By the point I acquired residence, the need to eat had handed! I used to be very stunned, however it did. That was a superb lesson for me, too.

In case your blood glucose is rising and getting increased than you’d like after you’ve handled your low, you may select to train and get your self away out of your tempting kitchen.

Take somewhat stroll to make use of up a few of that meals you ate for the low BG and keep away from the necessity to take corrective insulin to deliver it down once more – vicious cycle, no?

One other technique to keep away from overeating after a low? Enlist the assistance of the folks round you. Generally all of us want somewhat assist. Who is aware of, they may simply be prepared to sit down with you whilst you look ahead to the low to return up or they could go on that stroll with you.

Urged subsequent posts: How To Deal with Low Blood Sugar At Night time and What a Low Blood Sugar Feels Like