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I'm a Type 1 diabetic. No one in the medical field, and run I've run in to my fair share of idiots along the way, has ever told me to "eat candy" when my blood

I'm a Type 1 diabetic. No one in the medical field, and run I've run in to my fair share of idiots along the way, has ever told me to "eat candy" when my blood sugar is low. The medical advice is that I should ALWAYS keep glucose on my person in a liquid or tablet form in case of a low blood sugar as these will bring blood sugar back up the quickest. If I do not have glucose on my person then I'm advised to drink anything that is "liquid sugar" - juice, pop, milk (lactose) because it raises the blood sugar quickly. But you need to consider this is because our bodies are DEFECTIVE. When my blood sugar goes to 30 (been there, done that) I need a blood sugar spike RIGHT NOW. And by right now I mean before I pass out, slip into a coma, and DIE. So when I am presented with a number so low that I am about to be seriously fucked, and I don't have my tablets with me, I'll eat every fucking carbohydrate in sight because a high blood sugar might kill me in 20+ years, but a low can kill me right now. Outside of potentially LIFE THREATENING low blood sugar levels diabetics are encouraged to try to stay away from foods that fall into the high glycemic index categroy. This is because they raise blood sugar fast, and then they crash back down just as fast. This is what most of us diabetics refer to as the "Roller Coaster"; and we do not like coasters. http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/what-can-i-eat/understanding-carbohydrates/glycemic-index-and-diabetes.html http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/what-can-i-eat... The really great thing about healthy non-diabetics is your body is really good at self regulation, so your "lows" will likely never go below 70 (e.g. Not dangerous), and even after gorging yourself on an entire pizza and chasing it with a 2 liter bottle of Code Red Mountain Dew your body will still keep your blood sugar maxed at an also healthy 100. So please don't talk like you understand diabetic science or that it in anyway relates to normal, healthy functioning adults. It is the equivalent of trying to say that someone without cancer should get chemo, because it helps people with cancer. It's not like you are going to pass out and die or possibly have your blood turn into acid and poison you to death (yes this is a real risk for a Type 1 diabetic http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/complications/ketoacidosis-dka.html http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/complications/k... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketoacidosis http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketoacidosis)

imanaccount247 12y ago
>I'm a Type 1 diabetic Me too. >So please don't talk like you understand diabetic science Please don't be a condescending prat when what I said is 100% accurate. Diabetics are allowed to eat sugar, and research indicates that the source of carbs really doesn't matter: http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/what-can-i-eat/understanding-carbohydrates/sugar-and-desserts.html http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/what-can-i-eat... Commonly used and recommended sources of sugar to treat hypoglycemia in diabetics include fruit, soda, juice, candy, sugar, honey and skim milk: http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/blood-glucose-control/hypoglycemia-low-blood.html http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-c...
- bigtunacan 12y ago
  Never did I say diabetics can't eat sugar. Carbohydrates are fuel and all carbs are sugar. It says right there on the ada link I provided a link to above, " If eating a food with a high GI, you can combine it with low GI foods to help balance the meal. - See more at: http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/what-can-i-eat/understanding-carbohydrates/glycemic-index-and-diabetes.html#sthash.3SR8aX8f.dpuf" http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/what-can-i-eat... And the bottom line is the dietary dos and do nots for diabetics just don't apply to healthy people. They are on a different playing field.
  - imanaccount247 12y ago
    >And the bottom line is the dietary dos and do nots for diabetics just don't apply to healthy people. Nobody said they did. So, why the angry long rant directed at me exactly?
    - bigtunacan 12y ago
      1) Hearing way too many people say diabetics should do X,Y, or Z when they don't know what they are talking about combined with your original post. On the first point, >>A similar misconception is "I need glucose therefore I should eat sugar" . >That's not a misconception, it is reality. It is amazing how many people on HN really hate science. Diabetics are told to eat juice or candy when their blood sugar is low for a reason. Yes, sugar is absolutely necessary for energy. Fat as fuel is pseudo science BS. On the other hand most people consume way more sugar than is necessary and the sugars we take when our blood sugars are low are not the best sources of sugar for a general diet and long term fuel source. On the second point, >>The most stable way to supply blood glucose is by eating fat >That is also too slow to be of any use." Fats, fiber, and protein are pretty great for fueling stabilized blood sugar since they lower the GI of carbohydrates. While this is not good for low blood sugar, it is great for maintaining stable lower fluctuating blood sugars. So the general advice for a healthy person to eat more fats and less carbs is overall some pretty good as advice as there is very strong evidence that it lowers risk of Type 2 diabetes. As for Type 1, obviously you're just fucked no matter what you do. Anyway, was not trying to be a "prat", and the TC is wrong on the whole point of >A similar misconception is "I need glucose therefore I should eat sugar". Your post came off to me though as the opposite extreme; while not explicitly stated, it seemed to imply that the people saying they should eat/drink high GI food/drinks to raise blood sugars, but really they should probably be eating more lower GI foods.

imanaccount247 12y ago

>I'm a Type 1 diabetic Me too. >So please don't talk like you understand diabetic science Please don't be a condescending prat when what I said is 100% accurate. Diabetics are allowed to eat sugar, and research indicates that the source of carbs really doesn't matter: http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/what-can-i-eat/understanding-carbohydrates/sugar-and-desserts.html http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/what-can-i-eat... Commonly used and recommended sources of sugar to treat hypoglycemia in diabetics include fruit, soda, juice, candy, sugar, honey and skim milk: http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/blood-glucose-control/hypoglycemia-low-blood.html http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-c...

bigtunacan 12y ago
Never did I say diabetics can't eat sugar. Carbohydrates are fuel and all carbs are sugar. It says right there on the ada link I provided a link to above, " If eating a food with a high GI, you can combine it with low GI foods to help balance the meal. - See more at: http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/what-can-i-eat/understanding-carbohydrates/glycemic-index-and-diabetes.html#sthash.3SR8aX8f.dpuf" http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/what-can-i-eat... And the bottom line is the dietary dos and do nots for diabetics just don't apply to healthy people. They are on a different playing field.
- imanaccount247 12y ago
  >And the bottom line is the dietary dos and do nots for diabetics just don't apply to healthy people. Nobody said they did. So, why the angry long rant directed at me exactly?
  - bigtunacan 12y ago
    1) Hearing way too many people say diabetics should do X,Y, or Z when they don't know what they are talking about combined with your original post. On the first point, >>A similar misconception is "I need glucose therefore I should eat sugar" . >That's not a misconception, it is reality. It is amazing how many people on HN really hate science. Diabetics are told to eat juice or candy when their blood sugar is low for a reason. Yes, sugar is absolutely necessary for energy. Fat as fuel is pseudo science BS. On the other hand most people consume way more sugar than is necessary and the sugars we take when our blood sugars are low are not the best sources of sugar for a general diet and long term fuel source. On the second point, >>The most stable way to supply blood glucose is by eating fat >That is also too slow to be of any use." Fats, fiber, and protein are pretty great for fueling stabilized blood sugar since they lower the GI of carbohydrates. While this is not good for low blood sugar, it is great for maintaining stable lower fluctuating blood sugars. So the general advice for a healthy person to eat more fats and less carbs is overall some pretty good as advice as there is very strong evidence that it lowers risk of Type 2 diabetes. As for Type 1, obviously you're just fucked no matter what you do. Anyway, was not trying to be a "prat", and the TC is wrong on the whole point of >A similar misconception is "I need glucose therefore I should eat sugar". Your post came off to me though as the opposite extreme; while not explicitly stated, it seemed to imply that the people saying they should eat/drink high GI food/drinks to raise blood sugars, but really they should probably be eating more lower GI foods.