The Real Reason Lows Turn Into Overeating (Don't Be Mad At Me)
Most people think overeating during a low is about hunger. It’s not. It’s about urgency. In this episode, we talk about why low blood sugar creates a sense of panic that feels exactly like hunger, even when your body doesn’t actually need...
The episode, word for word
Listen. You may hate this episode. You may hate what I am about to say. But somebody has to say it out loud, so it might as well be the guy who's been doing this for 33 years.
You and I, and pretty much everyone living with type 1 diabetes, have lied to ourselves. We don't just say, "I need a snack, my blood sugar is low." We say, "No. I deserve a snack!" with our whole chest. And once that word "deserve" shows up, nobody can tell us otherwise.
Low blood sugar hits and suddenly it's "I deserve this Cap'n Crunch. I deserve six Pop-Tarts sandwiched together with cake icing. I deserve this because I deal with carbs and sugar and 'be good' food choices all day long."
I'm Neil Greathouse, and this is Your Best T1D Year.
Here's the defense mechanism we've built: lows are not just medical emergencies, they're our loophole. Our free pass. Our "you can't judge me, my blood sugar is 55" card.
We treat lows like a reward. Like a treat. Like emotional back pay for all the carbs we said no to earlier in the day. And yeah, the sugar might bring your number up in the moment, but over time it quietly wrecks your blood sugars, your weight, and your relationship with food.
Today's episode is not about being perfect. It's about telling the truth. And the truth is: lows need medicine, not a reward.
Let me be really clear: the only reason I get to say this is because I've done all of it.
I have eaten carrot cake and cheesecake while looking someone straight in the eye, daring them to say something. Just waiting for them to ask, "Should you be eating that?" so I could unload 30 years of frustration on their unsuspecting soul.
I have eaten Skittles, Rollo's, cinnamon rolls, and Hostess chocolate-covered donuts under the holy banner of "My blood sugar is low, I NEED this, I DESERVE this, and you can't say a word about it."
I have stood in the kitchen like a raccoon in a church parking lot dumpster, shoving Swedish Fish into my mouth so fast I couldn't taste a single one. No joy. No savoring. Just panic and calories.
And here's the painful part: I didn't enjoy any of it. Not really. Not in the way I want to enjoy food. I would love to sit down and enjoy Swedish Fish on purpose, but when I'm low and using them like a fire extinguisher, there is zero enjoyment happening.
Here's the reality we don't like to admit:
A low blood sugar is not a cheat code. It's not a treat window. It's not a "get out of nutrition jail free" card. It's your body saying, "I am missing a specific thing. Please give me that thing."
That thing is glucose. Not "something." Not "whatever's in the pantry." Not "whatever makes me feel emotionally better about having diabetes." Glucose.
Because our pancreas does not work the way it is supposed to, our body cannot just release what we need on its own. So we have to ingest it. That's why glucose tablets, gels, and gummies exist. They are dextrose, which is basically plug-and-play glucose for your bloodstream. It's medicine, not dessert.
But over the years, we've slowly lulled ourselves into believing we deserve cookies. We deserve cake. We deserve to eat like we're at an all-you-can-eat dessert buffet in Vegas every time we hit 65 mg/dL.
And if anyone dares raise an eyebrow, it's "How dare you judge me, I'm SAVING MY LIFE."
Yes, that cinnamon roll or those six Pop-Tarts might bring your number up in the moment. Technically, they "work." But they are also training your brain to believe that you genuinely need that much food every time you are low.
Here's the spiral:
Low hits.
"I deserve this" kicks in.
You eat a ridiculous amount of food in the name of survival.
You spike to the moon.
You regret it. You beat yourself up. You swear you'll "do better next time."
Then the next low hits... and the cycle repeats.
Over time, this doesn't just wreck your numbers. It wrecks your relationship with food. Food stops being something you enjoy. It becomes something you inhale while panicking, then hate yourself for later.
And here's the worst part: it steals the joy from the foods you actually love. Eat cake. Seriously. Eat the carrot cake. Eat the cheesecake. But eat it when you're stable, when you're not in survival mode, when you can actually taste it and enjoy it like a human being, not a blender.
This is very Ted Lasso meets Jason Bateman moment: imagine Jason Bateman looking straight into the camera, deadpan, and saying,
"So just to recap... instead of using the small, fast-acting glucose designed to treat your low, you chose the 'six Pop-Tarts and cake icing' protocol. Interesting choice. Bold strategy."
And Ted Lasso's over in the corner going, "Hey, you're not a bad person. You're just using cake as an EpiPen, and maybe that's not the long-term plan we want, yeah?"
You're not broken. You're not weak. You're just using the wrong tool for the job.
Here's what I want you to sit with this week:
When I say "I deserve this" during a low...
What am I really asking for?
Comfort?
Permission?
A break from being "good" all day?
Because your body doesn't "deserve" a treat when you're low. It needs medicine. You deserve to enjoy your food when you're not in a crisis.
If you're new here, this is Week 4 of the Low Blood Sugar Challenge. We're not just changing what you use to treat lows, we're changing the story you tell yourself about lows.
Head to yourbestt1dyear.com, sign up, and follow along. You don't have to do this perfectly. You just have to be honest with yourself and keep showing up.
Friday, we're talking about the relationship with food you actually deserve. The one where cake is cake again, not a medical device. The one where you can like food, trust yourself, and still keep your blood sugars out of the chaos zone.
Stick with me. It's about to get good.
If this all feels heavy, you're not wrong. Managing type 1 is a lot. Which is why Blue Circle Health exists. They help with the medical side and the mental load: CGM support, insulin adjustments, coaching, and real humans who actually get it. Free, in 23 states plus Washington DC. The 3 newest states are Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois! Go to bluecirclehealth.org and see what's possible.
Type 1 diabetes is relentless, but managing it doesn't have to be. New episodes drop every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. You're not doing a bad job, you're doing a difficult job. There's a difference...and you're allowed to do it with better tools than Pop-Tarts.
// Year 33 Day 12415 #YourBestT1DYear
Jan 30 - 151
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.