Snacks

I'm interested to know what others tuck away in all those hidden-away places, for snacking.

Last night at 3am I was woken up with the numb lips/pins & needles around the nose which tells me I'm nearing a hypo. Foraging in my bedside table I have Dextrose/glucose tablets and my current snack of .....................small box of sultanas/raisins. I also keep them in my glove box in the car, my sports bag, and my hand bag. [I didn't do a blood test at 3am, but at breakfast this morning I was at 7.2, so job done - well done Mel ]

I'm now looking for an alternative/different snack - what do you keep hidden away, "just in case".......................?

I usually keep a bottle of Lucozade handy by the bedside just in case I wake during the night feeling low, but then again you have to be careful that you don't over drink too much of it or you will go the opposite way. Also what's good is some simple biscuits and snacks that are about 1 to 1.5 cps each and they will bring your BG up a little but not too much, just to get you to breakfast.

I like to have a bottle of lucozade by my bed and in my handbag and car i carry mini packets of jelly babies

Jelly Babies everywhere

cant beat jelly babies no need to mesure or weigh just take 3-4 of em never go anywhere without mine

I think snack items and hypo resolve have to be identified as different things.

When treating hypos it should always be quick acting carbs, between 15 and 20g. I actually prefer the isotnic sports drinks, just ASDA's own, half of the bottle [500ml] does the job quickly.

Snacking though is different, snacking implies a small food item in between a main meal......

Something low carb and low GI would be best or even carb free...... ........I try not to snack though as it just means I wont be on target for the next meal, which I like to see more often than not...kinda OCD thing going on.....

I always have jelly babies with me and in my bedside locker or one of the small cans of coke (150ML). I find one cp is enough to bring me back up. Anymore and i go the opposite way. As regards snacking i love my grub so find it hard not to so am trying to snack on foods that contain no carbs.

I totally agree with the ocd thing which I seem to have been affected by!!! Nice to know I'm not alone.

novorapidboi26 said:
I think snack items and hypo resolve have to be identified as different things.

When treating hypos it should always be quick acting carbs, between 15 and 20g. I actually prefer the isotnic sports drinks, just ASDA's own, half of the bottle [500ml] does the job quickly.

Snacking though is different, snacking implies a small food item in between a main meal......

Something low carb and low GI would be best or even carb free...... ........I try not to snack though as it just means I wont be on target for the next meal, which I like to see more often than not...kinda OCD thing going on.....

Interesting to read of others' experiences. I agree that for hypos I need rapidly acting carbohydrate and I always carry a small bottle of classical Lucozade with me and about 4 small bottles in the car. The only problem with carrying this everywhere is it is rather heavy! A convenient alternative is Glucojuice which comes in a 60ml bottle = 15 g CHO ( 1.5 CHO portions).
If I am exercising such as walking or mowing the lawn I find that Sainsbury's Fruit Jellys work fairly fast and are relatively palatable, more so than jelly babies and each is = 10g CHO ( 1 CHO portion). Glucotabs can be helpful as they come is a robust plastic tube, each tablet being = 4g CHO so one would need about 3-4 at a time. I used to use Dextrosol tablets but found the packet gets tatty and if I have not used them recenltly they go very hard and almost impossible to dissolve in the mouth quickly. I have found chewing glucose tablets and trying to keep them in the mouth for as long as possible is helpful for a quick response as the glucose is absorbed through the buccal mucosa ( the liniing of the mouth without waiting to go through the stomach. I know some people use snacks like Mars bars etc but these never seem to work quickly enough for me and my blood sugar continues to go down after taking a Mars bar ( or rather part of one) and the goes terribly high . I tend to avoid snacks except if I am walking and my blood sugar is on the way down though not hypoglycaemic. I may then have a biscuit or even a chocolat. My weight is generally stable in the normal range but I am anxious not to gain weight as this would increase my insulin requirement and and may lead to a vicious cycle of weight gain and escalating dosage.

Percy Pigs! From M&S, they are 0.6 each, one is usually enough if I feel low, but two would be enough to be sure. I put some in a small plastic bag to top me up while cycling, they are good because they don't go sticky. Also Bassetts mint creams - 1.0 each and are individually wrapped - very handy.
I find with glucose drinks I'm not that sure how many CPs I've had, they're heavy, and I'm tempted to drink them if I'm thirsty.
I also carry everywhere Nairns individually wrapped oat biscuits (mixture ginger, fruit etc.). Two per pack and 0.7 each, handy to have as a snack with a cuppa, or if needed after a Percy Pig emergency!