As each new holiday approaches and store shelves are stocked with themed treats, I scan the nutrition labels of the confections to see which might be good treatments for low blood sugar.
I suppose some people look at my basket of candy and assume that I am purchasing it for my children’s free consumption. To fill trick-or-treat bags, stockings, and Easter baskets.
While we used to use juice exclusively for lows, we’ve expanded our repertoire to include glucose tablets and, yes, candy. (Gasp!)
I’ve actually found that sometimes one roll of Smarties at 6 grams of carbs, is enough to bring Q into range, especially if it’s shortly before a meal.
(Read How Low Can You Go for a chart of hypoglycemia treatments by price.)
I always say that the irony is that my child consumes way more juice and candy since being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes than she ever had before.
On a recent trip to Walgreens to pick up prescriptions, we browsed the Easter aisle for appropriate snacks.
I picked up a bag of Swedish Fish and Skittles. Q has never in her life had Swedish Fish, so she thought it quite a treat to be given a small packet for a recent low.
And I have to say, after having a juice box rupture in our pump bag, I’m tending toward non-messy candy for on-the-go low blood sugar treatments.
One individual bag of Skittles weighs 15 grams and is approximately 13.5 grams of carbs.
One “treatsize” bag of Swedish Fish weighs 15 grams and is 13.5 grams carbs.
The bad thing? My non-diabetic child has a newfound love of Swedish Fish and has been asking for them when he’s entitled to a treat.
Further Reading
Swedish Fish Website (very cute!)
C’s favorite low-treater is Swedish Fish. They’re sooo good! But when he’s low…we all eat a few fish.
The ones we got are Easter themed, so they have fish and fish eggs. I wonder if the regular Swedish Fish come in single serve packages, too. How many carbs are each fish?
I also share her love of the fish! Haven’t used them for lows yet though.
It’s so funny because now my son keeps going to the pantry and asking for them. I think he ate an entire bag himself over the course of a couple of weeks!
:o) It’s fun-sized Skittle season! I’m the only 30 year old I know who has them spilling out pockets, cup holders, purses, and kids’ backpacks…for herself! I’ve gotten strange looks in Target when I tell my kids, “No. These are mommy’s Skittles…..Yes, I know you like them but they are for MOMMY…Well, yes, you can have Skittles sometimes but the ones in the little bag are special just for Mommy….Fine. I’ll buy your own bag just this once.”
Ha! That’s so funny!
Do you find that Skittles spike you? They raise Q so quickly that sometimes I don’t think we need an entire package of them.