Hypoglycemia ???

[LovesTimone]

I have Hypoglycemia and I'm learning to deal with it,
I try eat small healthy snacks during the day and small portions at meal time. But sometimes I get so busy that I forget to eat or if I am really active which I am most days. That's when I have problems and once it gets low then its like a yo-yo for a day. It really wipes me out.
When I was there in October I had a low on a ride. It really scared me,I had to go back to the resort and lay down for several hours. I don't want to have a repeat of that for our up coming vacation. It's a big celebration, we are going with other family members and friends.
How you handle this?

Thanks so much

 

[mermaid mama]

I also have Hypoglycemia, mine is reactive Hypoglycemia. It can be very scary when it happens. Try to eat your three main meals with a healthy balance of fat\carb\protein. I also have a snack mid morning, mid afternoon, and prior to going to bed. I was told by a dietician that the best thing you can have as a snack when no food is available is a glass of milk. Kashi granola bars or activia yogart works for me to for a snack. These all have that balance of fat\protein and carb. When I was at Disney World in Oct. I had a milk with my meals and carried Kashi bars with me. It really did the trick to keep my sugars up. You have to keep the balance of food and all the extra excitement and walking you do at Disney. I would try a strong good breakfast: no sugar added oatmeal with hard boil egg, I put apple sauce in my oatmeal to help. I also try to keep my food low on sugar to avoid the spikes and drops in sugar. Deb

 

[justgeorgi]

I always carry an apple or a frozen Capri Sun juice drink in my bag. It is easy to carry and dispose of and quick to consume. Drinking the juice drink is especially easy to remember. On days I don't eat breakfast or if I don't put sugar in my coffee (I prefer splenda) I just drink the juice drink on the bus ride over or as I'm walking into the park and as long as I eat lunch I'm fine

 

[Schmeck]

How about having something to eat (even just a portion of a snack) as you enter an attraction queue? I usually keep a bag of trail mix in my bag, and can have a handful when I start to feel off. I haven't been diagnosed with hypoglycemia, but I do get lots of the symptoms when I'm burning my candle at both ends.

 

[amzking]

I have not been formally diagnosed with anything but I have had an issue with my sugar levels for years, the issue is that if I have carbs for breakfast I tend to suddenly develop extreme hunger and shakiness about two hours later. It is only fixed by eating carbs. If it's really bad I continue to feel that extreme hunger every two hours for the rest of the day. If I wait too long to eat when that hunger comes then I continue to feel crappy no matter what I eat.

I agree with the poster that spoke about having a good breakfast. I will have a one-egg omelette, or some sausage, or if I'm in a hurry then some cheese. I try to have no carbs at all for breakfast except for the cream in my coffee. Everything stays real stable that way, and once lunch is over I can pretty much eat anything I want.

Again, I have no formal diagnosis, but that is what works for me.

 

[ancestry]

I found the best thing for me is almonds. I snack on them throughout the day between meals and it really helps to keep my levels stable.

 

[SanFranciscan]

Lovestimone, I was diagnosed with hypoglycemia in 1985 and am now a newly diagnosed diabetic who still has trouble with low blood sugar sometimes so you and the others certainly have my sympathies with your hypoglycemia. Of course, sympathy is useless to someone feeling sick. My cure for feeling weak from low sugar is raisans. They don't spoil like juice might, are light and compact to carry, and are fast-acting while a candy bar can react too slowly due to the fat content.

 

[LovesTimone]

I have had to start carrying glucose tablet with me all the time. You can buy them over the counter.

I like the idea of trail mix, but I could make my own blend and baggie it for the day and refill it at night.

What are your symptoms that send off the warming bells that you are to low.?
My neck starts to sweat, that cold clammy kinda sweat, and I can't focus my eyes, I see sorta spots, then the shaking begins, If I get to the shaking then I'm in big trouble, Then I can't talk I just can't seem to be able to put the words together, Then I will pass out.
Super scary.

 

[LockShockBarrel]

I was wondering if someone was going to say glucose tablets! I haven't had a reaction in a LONG time since I'm more aware of things now but I still carry those with me just in case. I think these are your best bet OP, obviously you'll still want to eat the right way and try to keep your levels as good as you can, but you may find you're body reacts differently in the heat or walking that much and all that. I chew up one of the tablets and let a little sit under my tongue and they're quite fast acting, faster than juice or candy for me. They also make a gel that looks like a little tube of the gel they use to write on cakes but I find it leaves a really funky taste. If you go to any pharmacy they should carry them OTC and you can usually get a small tube (about the size of a mini M&M's tube) for under 2 bucks, or large bottles for 5-7. Common flavors are orange, grape, watermelon, or raspberry. They taste like giant Smarties candies. I suggest you grab a tube and see how they work for you, and if you like them and they work, you can buy the large bottles and just refill the tube.

 

[SueM in MN]

You got a lot of good advice on what to eat.
I am an undiagnosed hypoglycemic who also forgets to eat when when bysy, so I'm going to talk about my worst problem, forgetting to eat.
When you are at WDW, it seems like time can really get away from you and it will get later than you realize.
Since you mentioned you forget to eat one thing that might be helpful is to set an alarm for yourself - you can set an alarm on a cell phone. I used my iPod touch to set multiple alarms at the same time during our most recent trip. That way, you won't forget to eat. Also , stay hydrated. Dehydration can intensify those ichy low sugar symptoms

You can bring snacks, even liquids, into the parks with no trouble. The security people are looking for things that can be used as weapons, alcohol and glass bottles (because they can be a hazard if they break). They won't be concerned at all about your snacks. I don't have any data to support it, but my guess is that at least 30% of guests bring some snacks in with them - just from the number of people with medical problems and the number of families with small children.

Also keep on mind that every park has a First Aid station where you could rest. They are quiet, dimly lit and cool and have cots in private rooms or cubicles where you can lie down. If you feel like a short rest (an hour or 2) may help enough for you to be able to get up and enjoy the park again, you can do it there. Even if you plan to go back to your resort, you might want to rest at First Aid before you go so that you know you are well enough to get back to your resort - there is an 'energy cost' to traveling back to your resort and you want to make sure you will be OK to get back there.