Emergency sugar fix.

dipbait

dipbait

Joined
Feb 9, 2008
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I have blood sugar problems. Just a little bit ago I was in the woods hunting mushrooms and had a sudden sugar drop. Sweaty, shaky, weak and light headed. Usually I have Oat Meal To Go bars in my bag but not today. One of those can sustain me for a couple of hours. This wasnt a life threatening situation but I was feeling pretty poorly. The truck was less than a mile away and I knew where a persimmon tree was . Its a little to early for persimmons and I also hate the things but needed something. I got to the tree and 98 percent were green. I found two red ones and ate them.They were sickening sweet. I immediately felt better and had an easy walk back.

Like I said , not life threatening but those of you who have sugar problems know how fast drops or spikes hit. Persimmons will get sugar in your blood stream very quick.
 
I always go after them early to beat the raccoons, possums and coyotes. You were lucky to find even a few ripe this early! Congrats on identifying a quick sugar fix when you needed it! Might want to drop a few Jolly Ranchers in you bag though for emergencies. Or honey straws if honey works for you.
 
If you have sugar problems, what you need is something to spike your sugar quick, then something to sustain it. Certain bakeries have little shooters full of icing, a lot tastier than those glucose tablets. A sugar bound to a protein will raise your blood sugar slowly and sustain it for a while. A sandwhich with some cheese will do. It takes longer for the stomach to breakdown the milkfat in the cheese. Honey, as suggested by Codger, will work on an intermediate term, as it has sugars to spike it quick, and carbs which take longer to breakdown into simple sugars. I'm not familiar with persimmons. What are they and how do they taste?
 
I've heard those sports gels recommended as they are very easy to get down if someone is starting to hypo. Gu, or Powergel or similar.
 
Glad you got it sorted Dipbait, I'm sure you know how bad that could have gotten. Its a good reminder for us who don't have blood sugar problems, but might be out and about with those who do, or may suddenly find we have a problem.

Actual gluco-gel is formulated to be absorbed through the skin of the mouth if the person is having trouble swallowing. I'm not sure if the sport gels are the same. Either way, never give anyone anything by mouth if they can't keep their mouth clear of saliva. In that case, just a dab on your finger, and into their cheek or gums, even crystal sugar might help in that case, and it would be better than nothing while you find their test kit. Over sugar or under sugar, adding more won't hurt in the short term, at least while you figure it out. For anyone who has a friend or two with diabetes, take the time to learn their test kit and routine so you can help then quickly if needed. They will also be more comfortable then (hopefully) telling you when a problem is coming on, instead of waiting it out and trying to keep up. They may also have a "tell" that you can pick up on, that they might not. Hey, what are friends for!
 
Samari, these are ripe persimmons. This photo was taken a couple of years back from the same tree I mentioned in the original post. They are very sweet and mushy. I do not like them.

2009-10-4002.jpg
 
Dipbait,
Have you been diagnosed? I am hypoglycemic (with the threat of Adult Onset)and always carry a little something. Peanut butter crackers for slow reelase and soft sugary candy for the quick spike. Lately I have been carrying honey bread and like that for the dual punch.

Bill
 
Nice fix "in the wild!"

I always carry a roll of Lifesavers. They're easy to find, cheap, long-lasting and do the job in a pinch. I've looked at various glucose tablets, but they seem bulkier than I'd like.
 
lmalterna said:
Dipbait,
Have you been diagnosed? I am hypoglycemic (with the threat of Adult Onset)and always carry a little something. Peanut butter crackers for slow reelase and soft sugary candy for the quick spike. Lately I have been carrying honey bread and like that for the dual punch.

Bill
Click to expand...


Yes. Im also hypoglycemic . I usually carry something with me , just ran out of bars and did not replace them.I have some glucose tablets in my hiking bag now.
 
I can sympathize with the feeling... not a good one. Before I knew better, I pushed through a couple of episodes and ended up on the ground. It is odd that sometimes it is because I have eaten nothing and sometimes I have had a soda and a sugary snack and then worked hard- burned that sugar right up and switched to soemthing with protein when the shakes started.

Knowing lets me avoid that and take a five minute break to refuel and get back to it. I just fear it will only get worse with age- first happened in my late 20's, I am 46 now.

Bill
 
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