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Symlin and low blood sugars
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bernfarrT1 posted:
I've tried using Symlin several times, but I've never managed to get my insulin dosing to work with it.

While using it I experienced some terrible lows. Eating dextrose to fix the lows doesn't seem to help because the Symlin is slowing down the absorption of food from my stomach.

I figured out an approach that's messy but really seems to fix Symlin lows . It works because your body can absorb some sugars through the tissues in your mouth.

Take a fast acting dextrose product (Dex 4 tablets or smarties are ideal). Chew this up in your mouth until it's a liquid goop and then don't swallow it. This allows your body to absorb some of the sugars now in your mouth.

It's messy and really hard not to swallow. I've found that it I bow my head forward that allows me to hold the mixture for longer.

Several of my T1 friends have used this approach with great success.
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2 Replies |Report This| Share this:Symlin and low blood sugarsI've tried using Symlin several times, but I've never managed to get my insulin dosing to work with it.<br /><br />While using it I experienced some terrible lows. Eating dextrose to fix the lows doesn't seem to help because the Symlin is slowing down the absorption of food from my stomach.<br /><br />I figured out an approach that's messy but really seems to <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.bernardfarrell.com/blog/2007/07/handling-lows-caused-by-symlin.htm">fix Symlin lows</a> . It works because your body can absorb some sugars through the tissues in your mouth.<br /><br />Take a fast acting dextrose product (Dex 4 tablets or <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.smarties.com/">smarties</a> are ideal). Chew this up in your mouth until it's a liquid goop and then <i>don't swallow it</i>. This allows your body to absorb some of the sugars now in your mouth.<br /><br />It's messy and really hard not to swallow. I've found that it I bow my head forward that allows me to hold the mixture for longer. <br /><br />Several of my T1 friends have used this approach with great success.
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MrsCora01 responded:
That's part of why Lifesavers are so ideal. You suck on them and they are absorbed quickly, also through the mouth. When my gastroparesis was bad, this is what I would do.

Thanks for the tip.

Cora
Report This| Share this:Symlin and low blood sugarsThat's part of why Lifesavers are so ideal. You suck on them and they are absorbed quickly, also through the mouth. When my gastroparesis was bad, this is what I would do.<br /><br />Thanks for the tip.<br /><br />Cora
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feelinghigh replied to MrsCora01's response:


This brings back memories when I used to chew on tootsie rolls and then spit it out before swallowing it. I THOUGHT I was being smart while cheating on something sweet. I wasn't trying to treat a low....just craving for tootsie rolls.
Report This| Share this:Symlin and low blood sugars<br /> <br />This brings back memories when I used to chew on tootsie rolls and then spit it out before swallowing it. I THOUGHT I was being smart while cheating on something sweet. I wasn't trying to treat a low....just craving for tootsie rolls.
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