Foods to Have:
Apricots 8
Fruit juice or soda ½ cup
Glucose tablets 4
Glucose gel 1 tablespoon
Corn syrup 1 tablespoon
Honey 1 tablespoon
Jelly beans 20 small
Raisins 2 tablespoons
Oranges 1 large
Also consider: Table sugar, jam, gumdrops, hard candy, icing and frosting
What is hypoglycemia?
Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, occurs when blood levels of glucose fall below 70 mg/dl. The most common cause can be the side effect of drugs used for the treatment of diabetes; however, other medications and health challenges can also lower glucose levels. For diabetics on these medications, hypoglycemia can result from meals or snacks that are too small, delayed, or skipped; increased physical activity; or alcoholic beverages. Symptoms of hypoglycemia include fatigue, dizziness, lightheadedness, headache, irritability, fainting spells, depression, anxiety, cravings for sweets, confusion, night sweats, weakness in the legs, swollen feet, chest tightness, constant hunger, nervous habits, mental disturbances, and insomnia.
Tip:
The most effective way to treat hypoglycemia is with glucose tablets or gel. But if the situation isn't urgent, more palatable options, such as hard candy, regular soda, table sugar, honey, or juice work well. Avoid carbohydrates combined with fat or protein—they can slow the absorption of glucose into the blood. When people have low blood sugar, they often feel like eating enormous amounts.
It is important to follow the "rule of 15" to avoid a bounce to hyperglycemia.
1. Test your blood sugar.
2. If it is 70mg/dL or below, eat 15 g of a fast-acting carbohydrate source.
3. Test in 15 minutes; if blood sugar is still 70 or below, treat again with 15 g of carbohydrate.
Did you know?
Low blood sugar occurs more frequently in people with type 1 diabetes. Almost 26 million children and adults in the United States have diabetes, and it is estimated that 79 million have prediabetes. Complications include heart disease and stroke, high blood pressure, blindness, kidney failure, neuropathy, and amputations. In 2007, the cost of diabetes in the United States was close to $174 billion, including $58 billion for indirect costs, such as disability, work loss, and premature mortality.
Apricots
There are about forty different varieties of apricots—all an excellent source of vitamin A. They are also a good source of fiber, potassium, and vitamin C. Eight dried apricots provide 15 g of carbohydrate. They are easy to carry with you to treat low blood sugar. Apricots are also an excellent source of potassium, which can help with electrolyte balance if someone is perspiring as a side effect of hypoglycemia.
Fruit Juice or Soda
All juices and regular soda contain about the same amount of carbohydrates, but when it comes to juices, not all of them impact blood sugar levels to the same degree. One-half cup of apple, cranberry, orange, or grape juice (most popular juices for raising blood glucose) contains 15 g of carbohydrate, and you can buy juice in convenient aseptic boxes that don't require refrigeration. Read the nutrition labels to determine the correct serving size to obtain 15 g from other juices or sodas.
Glucose Tablets/Gel or Corn Syrup
You won't find these items anywhere else in the book because they have only one purpose and one benefit. If you don't have diabetes or reactive hypoglycemia, there is no reason for adding glucose or corn syrup into your diet. Simply put, glucose tabs and gels contain 100 percent glucose—the fastest solution to raising your blood glucose back to normal. Corn syrup, made from the starch of corn, is 15 to 20 percent dextrose (glucose). It is not as sweet as sugar (sucrose). In fact, it's practically flavorless, but still useful as a sweetening agent in the food industry because it crystallizes less readily than sugar. Three small adult studies have shown that oral glucose is the best treatment for low blood sugar. The American Diabetes Association recommends glucose as the go-to treatment, although the ADA notes that any carbohydrate source may be used. Glucose or sucrose is recommended by both the Canadian Diabetes Association and the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes. Glucose and sucrose were significantly more effective than was fructose at treating hypoglycemia in pediatric diabetics.
Honey
Honey is produced by bees' breaking down the sucrose in plant nectar. The result is a thick syrup that contains glucose, fructose, water, and a minimal amount of assorted nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, which is absorbed fairly quickly by the bloodstream. One tablespoon contains 17 g of carbohydrate. The color and flavor of honey results from which plant species the nectar was tapped. The darker the honey, the more antioxidants are contained within. The exception to that rule is for light clover honey (which is high in antioxidants) and dark mesquite honey (which is low in antioxidants). The American Diabetes Association recommends administering a tablespoon of honey when symptoms of hypoglycemia strike. Honey contains a one-to-one ratio of glucose to fructose, and although it is absorbed slightly less quickly than table sugar, it is a better choice overall because of its antioxidant content.
Jelly Beans
Keep in mind that hypoglycemia can be a killer, so this is sweet emergency medicine we are talking about here! Same deal applies here as with glucose tablets: They have a high glycemic index rating and are recommended by the American Diabetes Association as fast-acting sugars to treat hypoglycemia. Although other candies will do the trick too, Toby likes these because they are very portable, not messy, and easy to divide into doses—they come in a wide variety of flavors, too. Have a few but be careful not to go overboard because they are very effective at keeping up your blood sugar!
Raisins
Raisins have a moderate amount of fiber, but are concentrated enough in sugar to override fiber's ability to slow sugar absorption. They are recommended by the American Diabetes Association to raise blood sugar and are convenient and inexpensive, which makes them a good choice for people prone to acute hypoglycemic episodes. As an alternative to raisins, Toby likes to use frozen grapes—seventeen grapes is a 15 g carbohydrate serving. "I purchase grapes when in season and then freeze them in baggies based on a serving size. Depending on how low a blood sugar reading [is], you can easily adjust how many grapes to munch, so you don't end up with a higher blood sugar reading."
About 99.5 percent of the raisins eaten by Americans and 40 percent consumed around the world are grown in California.
Oranges and Orange Juice
One medium-size orange is a 15 g serving of carbohydrate. Toby likes oranges because they are affordable, easy to find, and able to be kept in the car or purse, which makes them a convenient snack to prevent low blood sugar episodes. Canned oranges and orange juice are other quick-sugar options.