What Happens When You Wait Too Long to Treat a Low
Waiting out a low feels responsible. Calm. In control. Until it isn’t. In this episode, we talk about what actually happens when you delay treating a low blood sugar, how quickly decision-making and coordination can slide, and why “I’ll...
The episode, word for word
So.
We're three weeks in.
Three weeks of glucose tablets instead of standing at the kitchen counter eating Biscoff cookie butter straight from the jar with a spoon. Three weeks of waiting 15 minutes instead of demolishing an entire sleeve of Ritz crackers like you're in a competitive eating contest. Three weeks of resisting every instinct you've had for years.
How's that going for you?
And I'm asking genuinely. Because here's the thing: if this was easy, you would've done it already. The fact that you're still here? That means something.
Today, we're checking in. We're talking about what's working, what's hard, and why you're doing better than you think, even if it doesn't feel like it yet.
I'm Neil Greathouse, and this is Your Best T1D Year.
Welcome to Friday. We're wrapping up Week 3 of the Low Blood Sugar Challenge, and I want to take a minute to just... pause.
Because you've been building something. Maybe it doesn't feel like it. Maybe you've messed up a few times. Maybe you're thinking, "I tried the glucose tablets thing, but then I ate six Pop-Tarts anyway, so I guess I failed."
Let me stop you right there.
You didn't fail. You're just learning. And learning is messy. So let's talk about it.
First, let's talk about what's working.
Maybe you've used glucose tablets a few times instead of eating 14 Auntie Anne's cinnamon sugar pretzel nuggets at 2am. That's a win.
Maybe you caught a low earlier than you normally would have, before you found yourself eating an entire family-size bag of Cheez-Its in your car like you were auditioning for a true crime documentary. That's a win.
Maybe you bought a tube of glucose tablets and actually put them in your bag instead of reaching for a handful of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups from the secret pantry stash nobody's supposed to know about. That's a win.
Maybe you resisted the urge to eat an entire jar of Trader Joe's Cookie Butter or a full box of Thin Mints you were saving for "later." That's a win.
Progress isn't perfect. Progress is just... slightly less chaos than before. And honestly? That counts.
Because here's what nobody tells you about building habits: The first three weeks are the worst. Everything feels awkward. You're thinking too hard. You're second-guessing yourself. You're wondering if this is even worth it.
And then one day, usually around Week 4 or 5, it clicks. You reach for glucose tablets without thinking. You wait the 15 minutes without panicking. You trust the process.
You're not there yet. But you're closer than you were three weeks ago. And that's something.
Now let's talk about what's hard.
Because I know some of you are struggling. And that's okay. Expected, even.
Maybe you're struggling with the taste. Glucose tablets still feel like punishment, and you're having a hard time convincing yourself to use them when there's a box of Chips Ahoy in the cabinet.
Maybe you're struggling with the waiting. 15 minutes feels like an eternity when you're shaky and panicking and your brain is screaming at you to eat an entire bag of Pepperidge Farm Goldfish crackers.
Maybe you're struggling with consistency. You're using glucose tablets sometimes, but when you're tired or stressed or just over it, you default back to eating an entire box of Entenmann's chocolate donuts while standing in front of the open pantry like a raccoon burglar.
Or maybe you found yourself at 3am eating handfuls of Lucky Charms straight from the box. No bowl. No milk. Just survival mode and marshmallows.
Here's what I want you to hear: That's normal. You're not behind. You're not failing. You're just in the messy middle.
The messy middle is where most people quit. Because it's uncomfortable. It's frustrating. It doesn't feel like progress even though it is.
But here's the thing: if you can get through the messy middle, you get to the other side. And the other side is where this becomes automatic. Where you don't have to think so hard. Where it just... works.
You're not there yet. But you will be. I promise.
So what do you do now?
Step 1: Give yourself credit for what you've done so far. Seriously. Three weeks is not nothing. You've shown up. You've tried something different. You've resisted eating an entire package of Oreos at least once. That matters.
Step 2: Pick one thing to focus on this week. Don't try to fix everything at once. Just pick one thing. Maybe it's buying glucose gummies instead of tablets. Maybe it's setting a 15-minute timer when you treat a low. Maybe it's keeping glucose on your nightstand so you don't stumble into the kitchen and eat an entire bag of Cape Cod kettle chips at midnight. Just one thing.
Step 3: Keep going. That's it. That's the whole strategy. Just keep going. Even if it's messy. Even if it's imperfect. Just keep going.
Because here's the truth: The people who succeed aren't the ones who do it perfectly. They're the ones who keep showing up even when it's hard.
That's you. You're still here. That's the whole game.
You know that moment in Ted Lasso when Coach Beard says, "Taking on a challenge is a lot like riding a horse. If you're comfortable while you're doing it, you're probably doing it wrong"?
That's this challenge. If you're comfortable right now, you're probably not pushing yourself hard enough. But if you're uncomfortable? If you're frustrated and second-guessing and wondering if this is even worth it?
You're doing it right. Keep going.
Here's what I want you to think about this weekend:
"What's one thing I've done differently in the last three weeks that I'm proud of?"
Not perfect. Not life-changing. Just... different. Just one thing.
Write it down. Text it to a friend. Say it out loud. Just acknowledge it. Because progress deserves recognition, even when it's small.
By the way, if you're new here, welcome. This is Week 3 of the Low Blood Sugar Challenge. You're jumping in right at the messy middle, which is either terrible timing or perfect timing depending on how you look at it.
Head to yourbestt1dyear.com, sign up, and follow along. You don't have to catch up. You don't have to be perfect. You just have to start. That's it.
Next week, we're diving deeper. Monday's a guest episode, someone who's gonna share their story and their breakthroughs. Wednesday, we're talking about the lie we tell ourselves about food and lows. That one's gonna hit hard. And Friday, we're talking about the relationship with food you actually deserve.
It's gonna be a big week. Stick with me.
Here's something I love, Blue Circle Health doesn't just throw information at you and hope you figure it out. They actually help you. Tech support. Mental health resources. Peer coaching. Insurance navigation. All of it. Free. Available in 23 states plus Washington DC. They're in the midwest now!! Go to bluecirclehealth.org. They get it.
Type 1 diabetes is relentless, but managing it doesn't have to be. New episodes drop every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. You're doing better than you think. Keep going.
// Year 33 Day 12410 #YourBestT1DYear
Week 50
Jan 26 - 149 Guest
Jan 28 - 150
This is the script as read on the mic, lightly tidied for reading. Education, not medical advice. Talk to your care team before you change anything about your insulin.