how low does your glucose have to be in order to eat a snack and how many carbs can the snack total?

Question

Please only those knowledgeable in diabetes answer this question.
Welcome answers from doctors, nurses, etc, and dietians.

Answer 1

This is a question that YOUR doctor should be answering for YOU. There are more considerations than how you feel or what your meter reads. Depending on what your treatment is, what type of diabetes you have, what you're using to control your diabetes, age, health. all of these should be considered when deciding what is a low and when it should be treated. Someone who is in poor health, living alone and/or insulin senstitive might need to treat a low at higher levels than others. Some people will not be able to feel lows, become hypoglycemic unaware, or some can't distinquish between lows and highs. With that said, the most common approach to those experiencing hypoglycemic symptoms and below their target glucose levels is to eat 15 grams of carbs, wait 15 minutes, check glucose again. If it's within exceptable range stop, if not eat another 15 grams and check in another 15 minutes. The carbs you eat should come from pure carb sources, like glucose tabs, juice, regular pop. If you're having a lot of lows you should call your doctor immediately. Your treatment needs to be adjusted.

Answer 2

I've had diabetes for nearly 13 years and I'm a student nurse.

My answer will depend on where you're from because different countries use different measurements. For example, in Britain (and australia I believe) we measure in mmols, but I'm not too sure about the US and Canada.

For those measuring in mmols, I would say anything below 5 is reason to have a snack. It depends tho, if you are say, 15 mins away from eating a meal and your blood sugar is 4.5, then I'd say skip the snack and wait for the meal unless you're experiencing signs of a hypoglycaemia.

Sometimes the signs of hypoglycaemia can come about when your blood sugar isn't actually low. Always check before you start chugging the glucose.

If however you're say an hour away from a meal and you're between say 4 and 5 mmols, then have a small snack such as a biscuit or a piece of fruit.

When I was first diagnose I was told to have 10. of complicated carbs following some glucose drink for a hypoglycaemia. I still unconciously stick to that rule even though we don't actually count carbs anymore as a rule. Of course there is also the risk of a hyperglycaemia following a hypoglycaemia. I wouldn't encourage you to try and balance that with a shot of insulin, because this will only bring on another hypoglycaemia later on. If you're worried, call you're diabetes specialist nurse.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

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Answer 4

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Answer 5

If I am under 75 I will treat a low blood sugar. I have 16g of carbs (4 glucose tablets) and then check my blood sugar about 15 minutes later. Be careful not to over do the carbs or you will have super high blood sugar levels later.

Answer 6

You need to rely more on how you are feeling than on the glucometer. If you are feeling shaky, and the glucometer tells you your sugar is lower than usual, then have a snack, but go with your symptoms, then back them up with the glucometer. As to carbs or calories, look at how long it will be til your next meal. Less than two hours, have something light, like a cracker and a tsp of cream cheese. If it is going to be three or four hours have more protein with a slice of bread. If you are diabetic, you should schedule some appointments with a registered dietician or a diabetic educator and learn more about controlling your disease.

Answer 7

You should have a snack when your bs is below 75. Eating below 90 is not advisible if you truely want normal blood sugars because of a blood sugar os 90 IS normal, and if you treat blood glucose levels too high, then you will feel low higher and higher, and your blood sugars will creep up. Also, treating at too high of a blood sugar could cause your blood sugar to go high.

The rule of thumb for treating low blood sugar is to have 15 grams of carbohydrate, wait 15 minutes, and then retest, and repeat as needed if you are still low.

Answer 8

Blood Sugar Management
http://www.dlife.com/dLife/do/ShowContent/blood_sugar_management/

Answer 9

the dr has told me normal for me and i am diabetic is 90-130 if it goes below 90 i chew 1 glucose tablet and an hour later i check my sugar again and it always goes up some ppl drink juice eat a cookie or something with sugar in it to raise thier level