Having diabetes means careful monitoring of your blood glucose. There may be times when you feel your blood glucose dropping too low. Low blood glucose, also known as hypoglycemia, can be dangerous if not properly managed. Keeping a variety of quick and healthy snacks can keep a dangerous situation from occurring.
Symptoms
Low blood glucose is characterized by a blood glucose of 70 mg/dl or less. It can also occur with a rapid drop in glucose. Symptoms of hypoglycemia include crying, drowsiness, change in mood, fainting, hand tremors, sweat, dizziness, excessive hunger, fatigue, irritability, unsteadiness, apathy, blurred vision, confusion, delusions, double vision, loss of consciousness, convulsions, headache, nervousness, slurred speech and poor coordination.
Fruit Juice
Fruit juice provides easily digestible carbohydrates that enter right into your blood stream. When carbohydrates are taken in liquid form, gastric emptying is quicker, which leads itself to faster absorption in the small intestine. Drinking 4 oz. of fruit juice can help boost your blood sugar. Fruit juice provides healthy carbohydrates and essential vitamins.
Honey and Sugar
If you're feeling hypoglycemic, eat 1 tbsp. of honey. Honey is a naturally occurring sugar, low in fat and calories. Its thick liquid composition lends itself to quick digestion. Honey is also easily palatable and transportable. If honey is not appealing to you, keep a few packets of sugar with you at all times. One tablespoon of sugar can be as effective as honey at increasing your blood glucose.
Precautions
Quick action should be taken when hypoglycemic symptoms occur. Eat a healthy snack such as 8 oz. of milk or three or four glucose tabs, then wait 15 minutes. Re-test your blood sugar and if it has not risen above 70 mg/dl, eat another serving of your preferred snack. Repeat this cycle until your glucose stays above 70 mg/dl. If your next meal isn't for another hour or more, have another snack beforehand. A good snack for a diabetic is a piece of fruit. Fruit contains fructose, which results in a steady rise in blood glucose over a prolonged period of time. Avoid foods that result in a drastic spike, then drop in glucose. If you're suffering from frequent occurrences of low blood glucose, contact your doctor.
Prevention
The best way to treat hypoglycemia is by preventing it. Don't skip meals and become familiar with how your blood glucose reacts to the foods that you eat. Careful monitoring of your blood glucose allows you to take action before it becomes a problem.
References
- "ACSM's Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription"; Whaley, Mithcell H., PhD, Brubaker, Peter H., Phd, Otto, Robert M., Phd (Eds.); 2006.
- National Diabetes International Clearinghouse: Hypoglycemia
- Mayo Clinic.com: Diabetic Hypoglycemia: Prevention
