Living with diabetes means taking extra precautions to ensure your blood sugar levels are within normal range. Type 1 diabetics often experience hypoglycemia or low blood sugar.
Quick fixes like glucose tablets, gels and other high-glucose products are essential products for anyone with type 1. In extreme cases, they could mean the difference between life or death.
You may not have the time to make yourself a home-cooked meal when you experience low blood sugar. You could be in the car, on a hike or somewhere else on the go. Having glucose gel or a few tablets on hand can help you get your levels back on track while you arrange for a better, long-term solution.
Glucose gel is primarily made of dextrose and water. The goal of the gel is to provide a high concentration of sugar to immediately increase your body’s glucose levels. Many gels come in single-serve packets of a variety of flavors, like strawberry, lemon and fruit punch.
Some of the most common glucose gel brands are listed below:
- TRUEplus
- Transcend
- GU Energy
- Glutose 15
Like gel, glucose tablets are designed to raise your blood sugar levels immediately upon ingesting them. These tablets are chewable sources of glucose and often come in a variety of flavors. Some people dislike the taste or texture of the gel, and tablets offer an alternative way of getting your glucose in a pinch.
Common glucose tablet brands include:
- Dex4
- TRUEplus
- ReliOn
You can find glucose gel and tablets at most drugstores, pharmacies and retail stores around the country, like Walgreens, Walmart and CVS. You can also find it online at Amazon or at other online stores.
You may experience pins and needles or a sharp stabbing pain if your blood sugar is too high. High blood sugar can cause damage to your nerves that causes it to misfire and feel like pain. You can relieve this pain with oral and topical medications.
Likewise, insulin needle injections can cause soreness. Lower gauge needles are thicker and are more painful but deliver insulin quicker. If you cannot switch to a thinner needle, you may suffer from diabetic needle pain.
To combat nerve and needle pain, you can use topical pain creams and ointment on the aggravated areas. Speak to your doctor about chronic pain. Prescription anticonvulsants and antidepressants can decrease the sensation of pain.
Foot pain and numbness is a common occurrence when you have diabetes. Diabetic shoes can relieve pain by reducing pressure on your soles. Diabetic footwear provides arch support and thick cushions to prevent further damage or injury.
By Admin –
