Q. I recently heard
that a person shouldn’t eat chocolate to treat low blood sugar. Is that true?
A. The fat in
chocolate slows down its absorption, so it won’t raise your glucose level as
quickly as other foods will. If that’s
all you have handy you can use it, but it isn’t the best choice.
When treating a low blood sugar event, use the 15 Rule:
1. Eat 15 grams of
fast acting carbohydrate
2. Wait 15 minutes
3. Test again
4. Repeat if needed
The following items contain approximately 15 grams of
carbohydrate:
½ cup (4 oz) of orange juice
Half a can of regular (not diet) soda
2-5 Glucose tablets (see label)
A small tube (0.68 ounces) of Cake Mate decorator gel
6-8 ounces of skim milk
Two tablespoons of raisins
5-7 Lifesavers candies
Your blood sugar level will begin to rise before the
unpleasant feelings disappear, so don’t keep eating or drinking until the
feelings go away. That will cause your
glucose level to climb too high and encourage you to gain weight.
Q. My cousin dared
me to ask you this. What affect does pot
have on diabetes?
A. I assume that you
are asking about marijuana, right? Most
research studies have found that marijuana has little effect on blood sugar
levels. The food cravings that often
accompany its use may, however, cause unwanted weight gain and blood sugar
swings. Under marijuana’s influence, a
person might also neglect his or her diabetes and make poor control decisions. Smoking pot isn’t a good idea for anyone and
can cause real problems if you have diabetes.
- For more great articles by Janis Roszler, visit the e-version of our magazine at walgreensdiabetes.com
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