Question:
From Ohio, USA:
My daughter has Type 1 diabetes. I was advised not to use chocolate,
such as a candy bar, to treat my daughter for low blood sugar because the fat
in a candy bar would slow down the absorption of the sugar. Two teens with
diabetes have told me their diabetes nurse educator recommended it for
lows. So, what's the scoop?
Answer:
Sometimes health educators tell teens to do things that
they know they will do. In other words the best thing to use is glucose
or a hard candy, juice, etc., but we know that the candy bar will be a
more readily accepted form of sugar to take and sometimes teens do not
treat lows.
I still believe it not to be the best to use candy bars to treat low sugar
levels for a couple of
reasons. If one is going to have a candy bar, it should be when one can
really enjoy and remember it; and it is not as fast acting with the fat
in it. Small children may get the idea that it is neat to be low,
because they can get something they like. I think it is best to save
the good stuff for when they can most enjoy it.
JM
Original posting 10 Feb 98
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