Sunday, August 17, 2014

HANDLING LOW BLOOD SUGAR

If you need a quick solution to low blood sugar, one of the favorite tricks of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) is a glass of milk. 

Milk contains lactose that's broken down into glucose (sugar). It also has fat and protein in it to slow down the rise in your blood sugar and keep it steady over time. For this reason, milk is a better solution than juice or glucose tablets. 

Fat-free and reduced-fat milk have the same amount of lactose. Other studies have found that a small amount of ice cream will work as well. 

If you don't like milk or don't buy it regularly to have on hand, you might also consider graham crackers, which are easily stored in the pantry or in your glove compartment. 

The ADA recommends that you avoid high-fat treatments, such as candy bars, because they aren't absorbed as quickly, may lead to very high blood sugar levels in the hours after you eat them and can contribute to weight gain.