When my older brother Mark was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at the age of 13, I was nine years old. I absorbed the basic science of high and low blood sugars, and how he needed daily insulin to regulate his blood sugar. But little did I expect an awaiting surprise.
One day my mom returned home from grocery shopping and pulled out two giant bags of Jolly Rancher hard candies. I remember the scene clearly. You see, I was a candy addict (still am). Big bags of watermelon Jolly Ranchers had my full attention.
My mom explained how this candy was purchased for Mark, in case he had low blood sugar at school. I nodded my head in full agreement, then began stuffing handfuls of them in my pocket every day or so thereafter. Yet, whenever the bag of Jolly Ranchers was nearly empty, my hand wavered, unable to steal the last candies. Deep inside my sugared-up, pre-adolescent consciousness, I knew better. Jolly Ranchers were my brother's mini-life preservers, just in case he floundered in the seas of low blood sugar.
The American Diabetes Association has a helpful publication for treating low blood sugar. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) develops when blood glucose drops below 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl). Consuming 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates such as fruit juice, raisins, fruit or a couple pieces of hard candy are excellent ways to treat low blood sugar.
Glucose tablets or gels are another option, and may be a better choice. Hard candy most commonly contains sucrose, which is comprised of half glucose and half fructose. Fructose has a slower, less powerful effect on blood sugar compared to glucose. So 15 grams of a pure glucose tablet is roughly equivalent to 30 grams of sucrose. Also, many sucrose-containing foods are calorie-laden, adding to your waistline. There's more bang for your buck with glucose as it acts faster, has less calories and the dosage amount is clear, so you're less likely to overtreat and push blood glucose too high.
It is important to note certain type 2 medications -- Precose [acarbose] and Glyset [miglitol] -- slow simple sugar digestion, and type 2 diabetics on these meds should always treat hypoglycemia with pure glucose.
My own family chooses to treat low blood sugar in their own way. They tried glucose tablets, but found they did not reach for them. Considering they eat less sweets than pre-diabetes, low blood sugar is a time to indulge. My mom swears by orange juice and Dots and my brother prefers Starburst jelly beans. My dad keeps a stock of 8-oz. cans of sugar soda in the fridge -- he finds soda acts quickly and the mini-portion prevents over-medicating.
1. Actually, "glucose" as it is commonly called in the U.S. is really dextrose, a matter of semantics unless you are a scientist.
Its worth noting that the retail cost of "glucose" tablets is rather high, the same exact ingredient is sold as the candy Smarties, for example, and retails for about half the price.
You are absolutely right about the speed, but many people with diabetes prefer candy made from sucrose (comprised of half glucose and half fructose) because while the dextrose raises blood glucose levels very quickly, it does not last as long, so the fructose may prevent the person with diabetes from dropping too low again too soon.
Its entirely a personal choice, but many people do find that candy may be eaten unintentionally, whereas "glucose" tablets are less likely to be eaten by candy-hungry family members!
Posted at 4:49PM on May 31st 2007 by Scott