Treating a low
More than likely, your endocrinologist will tell you how they want to treat a low (“hypo”, for hypoglycemia—-it’s funny how many long words we T1Ds need to learn!). The generic procedure that almost everyone starts with, and which, because it generic, doesn’t fit anyone perfectly, is:
- Test
- If low, take 15 carbs
- Test 15 minutes later. If you are still low, take another 15 carbs
The best type of cabs is to use “fast” carbs, that is, high glycemic index carbs. Fruits are not very fast carbs because their primary sugar is fructose, which needs conversion into glucose by the body. Dairy foods containing lactose, as well as other fibrous foods, have the same issue. Glucose tablets come in tabs or 4 carbs and are fast carbs. They are an easy way to start, although expensive. In later chapters we’ll discuss other options—-if you don’t want to use glucose tablets, I prefer the convenience of Skittles (I’m not sponsored I swear): they are about 1 carb per (just a little less, really, but it’s a marginal error) candy, and I carry them in glucose tablets tubes: I can normally carry 30 skittles per tube, and I can count them with my tongue as I pour them from the tube for precise and handy correction.
Growing up T1D 