Diabetes question....?

For a few reasons. One is some diabetics simply don't follow a proper diet and go ahead and have sugar without moderation. It is okay to have sugar, just as long as its in moderation or insulin is taken with it. But some go overboard while others keep it reasonable.

Also, because diabetics have to manually inject insulin or take oral medication to lower the blood sugar, sometimes too much is taken and the blood sugar can drop too low causing Hypoglycemia. In that case a diabetic needs a quick snack like a bit of candy, small glass of juice, some crackers, etc....

Either she is snacking on candy and soda because he sugar has dropped to low and she is trying to bring it back up, or she is just eating what she wants when she wants.

You can just ask her about it. Diabetes is not taboo. if you are curious just talk openly or ask questions.

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Some people living with diabetes may experience what is known as hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), especially if they are on insulin or taking medications.

The treatment for low blood sugar is to eat or drink something with sugar (such as sugar cubes, candy or soda pop) to bring blood sugars back to normal.

This may be why your aunt is eating candy bars or drinking coke when feeling sick (hypoglycemia can make you feel confused, tired, nauseated etc.)

Other than hypoglycemia, people with diabetes are generally discouraged from eating sweets because these quickly raise blood sugar levels, unless they are on insulin and can use the insulin to "cover" the sweets they had. So another factor to consider is whether your aunt is on insulin or not.

Diabetics can also use sugar substitutes (such as Splenda) when baking, which do not affect blood sugar levels. Your aunt may be using a sugar substitute when baking cookies and brownies.

First of all is it type 1 or 2 diabetes? No-one seems to know the difference. Type 2 is where you get so obese (or other complications) your body can't produce enough insulin, that's the one everyone seems to know about. You control it with diet and exercise (so that's where you get the 'no sugar' myth from, like anything 'in moderation' it is ok. As for your aunt what you described is most probably type 1. That is where for some unlucky reason (either genetics or bad luck) your body stops producing insulin entirely. So you need to have insulin injections. For every person you need a 'base' of insulin to keep your body working properly and extra for every gram of carbohydrate you eat (including sugars) you need more. And the more exercise you do makes your body need less (but not no) insulin. That is why you may think that diabetics can't eat sugar. Well they can as long as they have enough insulin/exercise for it. And what your aunt does is called 'hypoglycemia' where you have too much insulin and the sugar in your blood goes too low. Then you NEED sugar or else or else you'll go into a coma and potentially die. That is why she eats sugar when she feels sick, she is having a low blood sugar. I'm a type 1 diabetic and I get a lot of the same questions. I eat cookies and brownies all the time and it is fine so long as you have insulin for it. Well it has the same negetive effects as on any person but it is not especially bad. If you want you can ask her about it or you can look up type 1 and 2 diabetes on wikipedia to get more info :)

When a diabetics blood sugar gets low they have to eat sugar or sweets (glucose) to get their blood sugar back to normal. Usually they can have limited sweets safely. Their are recipes to make cookies, brownies, or other sweets that have no sugar and are safe for a diabetic to eat regularly. Some diabetics take a pill (type 1) to help them control their blood sugar with their diet. Too much sugar makes it go too high which requires a shot (type 2). Their are two types of diabetics. And not all diabetics are overweight they can be very thin as well. If you are still unsure about it google it or check out some books at the library.

Doctors Reverse Diabetes Without Drugs : http://diabetes.neatprim.com/

When a diabetic's blood sugar is too low, you SHOULD eat something. Please, tell your aunt I learned this the very hard way - you do not want to counteract hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) with regular soda. Orange juice or fruit juice will raise your blood sugar to normal levels without making it spike. A glucose tablet has the same amount of glucose as 8 ounces of OJ.

Splenda raises blood sugar for type 1 diabetics.

http://www.splendaexposed.com/articles/2005/02/sug...

It's best to discuss this with your aunt because there are many many ways to treat diabetes. She may be able to have a Coke without spiking too high, or she may have it and not care about what it does to her blood sugar, or she may need one if her sugar is too low.

If it's not something that you can talk to her about then you won't know the answer.

She may be able to take medication to cancel out the sugar in her treats, or she may simply not care about how high her blood sugar goes.

moderation...but if she doesn't eat protein every 6-8 times a day, blood sugar drops and she needs sugar fast to keep from going in a coma.

balance is the thing. diet and exercise...my husband is diabetic without any pills or shots by eating 3 meals (well balanced/not fried) and snacks between meals(nuts). blood sugar ranges 105-115. we keep orange juice (non refrigerated) in the cars, incase of emergency, he eats sweets just not a huge amount of it. Moderation, Moderation.