Re: Why not give Corn Starch w/ sugar? ?s about hypoglycemia and others

[Guest guest]

Bec

The reason you don't give the cornstarch with sugar is that you are trying

to keep the blood sugar up with the cornstarch and the sugar will make it

plummet. Uncooked cornstarch is the way to keep it up.

I have a recipe (homemade) that I have used. Heat an unsweetened juice (I

use orange or cranberry that has no sugar added). Add enough cornstarch to

make it thickish. Then add already cooked rice and raw cornstarch. You could

also add a very small amount of honey, but I find that the sweetness of the

juice is fine. The juice metabolizes first, then the cooked cornstarch and

the rice and finally the uncooked cornstarch. I like rice pudding, so this

is a treat for me. I would think you could do the same with tapioca, using

it cooked and then adding the tapioca flour.

laurie

>

> Reply-To: Mito

> Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2002 06:19:24 -0000

> To: Mito

> Subject: Why not give Corn Starch w/ sugar? ?s about hypoglycemia and

> others

>

> I have been reading the posts regarding the benefits of corn starch

> to keep the sugar levels up through the night.

>

> What is the issue with giving it with a sugar product? Caution upon

> caution was listed. I couldn't find anything on the web.

>

> I am confused. Corn starch is a staple in the American food pantry.

> You can't hardly pick up any product that doesn't have corn starch,

> modified food starch, vegetable starch (all mean corn) as an

> ingredient. At the same time, you also see loads of different types

> of sugars.

>

> The reason I know all this? I have a horrific corn allergy that

> gives me a 4 day migraine. I am an avid label reader and have to

> know the hidden ingredients.

>

> Therefore, if a person with mito disorder cannot have corn starch and

> sugar mixed together, do you have to read labels and be a diligent as

> I am to keep the two separated?

>

> What bad things can happen to the child / person if they are mixed?

>

> Do you only have to separate the high amounts of corn starch from

> sugar and the rest is ok?

>

> With Spencers likely abdominal migraines and the highest concentrate

> ingredient in his formula was corn, I removed corn from his diet.

> According to the allergist, the next step would be to put him back on

> corn and see what he does. If he starts vomiting again, it was the

> corn.

>

> I am seeing the GP tomorrow and was going to discuss putting Spencer

> on Tapioca flour in leu of corn starch. I did read on a link that

> substituting anything for the corn starch wouldn't work. Why not?

> Because corn starch has the particular type of slow releasing sugar?

>

> Other questions, do you take your childrens blood sugar on a daily

> basis to make sure it is in line? If I were to ask the GP for blood

> sugar tests, what would I ask him to look for? I know the high sugar

> before a meal and the low sugar following the meal. What about other

> times of day? Morning? Bedtime? Are the mito kids on diabetes type

> diets that are low in sugars?

>

> My sons current primary source of nutrition is from the bottle

> because of the vomiting issue. Since coming off the corn and being

> on the Periactin, he is doing a much better job eating solids and not

> gagging and vomiting. The bottle is loaded with Brown Rice Syrup as

> the sweetner. He loves fruits and sweet potatos. It is very

> difficult to get him to eat vegetables. I have to hide them in the

> fruit. He can't eat meats yet without gagging and vomiting. Still

> too thick for him. But just the fact that he can eat the solids he

> can is leaps and bounds improvements.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Bec

>

>

>

>

> Please contact mito-owner with any problems or questions.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Bec

The reason you don't give the cornstarch with sugar is that you are trying

to keep the blood sugar up with the cornstarch and the sugar will make it

plummet. Uncooked cornstarch is the way to keep it up.

I have a recipe (homemade) that I have used. Heat an unsweetened juice (I

use orange or cranberry that has no sugar added). Add enough cornstarch to

make it thickish. Then add already cooked rice and raw cornstarch. You could

also add a very small amount of honey, but I find that the sweetness of the

juice is fine. The juice metabolizes first, then the cooked cornstarch and

the rice and finally the uncooked cornstarch. I like rice pudding, so this

is a treat for me. I would think you could do the same with tapioca, using

it cooked and then adding the tapioca flour.

laurie

>

> Reply-To: Mito

> Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2002 06:19:24 -0000

> To: Mito

> Subject: Why not give Corn Starch w/ sugar? ?s about hypoglycemia and

> others

>

> I have been reading the posts regarding the benefits of corn starch

> to keep the sugar levels up through the night.

>

> What is the issue with giving it with a sugar product? Caution upon

> caution was listed. I couldn't find anything on the web.

>

> I am confused. Corn starch is a staple in the American food pantry.

> You can't hardly pick up any product that doesn't have corn starch,

> modified food starch, vegetable starch (all mean corn) as an

> ingredient. At the same time, you also see loads of different types

> of sugars.

>

> The reason I know all this? I have a horrific corn allergy that

> gives me a 4 day migraine. I am an avid label reader and have to

> know the hidden ingredients.

>

> Therefore, if a person with mito disorder cannot have corn starch and

> sugar mixed together, do you have to read labels and be a diligent as

> I am to keep the two separated?

>

> What bad things can happen to the child / person if they are mixed?

>

> Do you only have to separate the high amounts of corn starch from

> sugar and the rest is ok?

>

> With Spencers likely abdominal migraines and the highest concentrate

> ingredient in his formula was corn, I removed corn from his diet.

> According to the allergist, the next step would be to put him back on

> corn and see what he does. If he starts vomiting again, it was the

> corn.

>

> I am seeing the GP tomorrow and was going to discuss putting Spencer

> on Tapioca flour in leu of corn starch. I did read on a link that

> substituting anything for the corn starch wouldn't work. Why not?

> Because corn starch has the particular type of slow releasing sugar?

>

> Other questions, do you take your childrens blood sugar on a daily

> basis to make sure it is in line? If I were to ask the GP for blood

> sugar tests, what would I ask him to look for? I know the high sugar

> before a meal and the low sugar following the meal. What about other

> times of day? Morning? Bedtime? Are the mito kids on diabetes type

> diets that are low in sugars?

>

> My sons current primary source of nutrition is from the bottle

> because of the vomiting issue. Since coming off the corn and being

> on the Periactin, he is doing a much better job eating solids and not

> gagging and vomiting. The bottle is loaded with Brown Rice Syrup as

> the sweetner. He loves fruits and sweet potatos. It is very

> difficult to get him to eat vegetables. I have to hide them in the

> fruit. He can't eat meats yet without gagging and vomiting. Still

> too thick for him. But just the fact that he can eat the solids he

> can is leaps and bounds improvements.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Bec

>

>

>

>

> Please contact mito-owner with any problems or questions.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Bec

The reason you don't give the cornstarch with sugar is that you are trying

to keep the blood sugar up with the cornstarch and the sugar will make it

plummet. Uncooked cornstarch is the way to keep it up.

I have a recipe (homemade) that I have used. Heat an unsweetened juice (I

use orange or cranberry that has no sugar added). Add enough cornstarch to

make it thickish. Then add already cooked rice and raw cornstarch. You could

also add a very small amount of honey, but I find that the sweetness of the

juice is fine. The juice metabolizes first, then the cooked cornstarch and

the rice and finally the uncooked cornstarch. I like rice pudding, so this

is a treat for me. I would think you could do the same with tapioca, using

it cooked and then adding the tapioca flour.

laurie

>

> Reply-To: Mito

> Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2002 06:19:24 -0000

> To: Mito

> Subject: Why not give Corn Starch w/ sugar? ?s about hypoglycemia and

> others

>

> I have been reading the posts regarding the benefits of corn starch

> to keep the sugar levels up through the night.

>

> What is the issue with giving it with a sugar product? Caution upon

> caution was listed. I couldn't find anything on the web.

>

> I am confused. Corn starch is a staple in the American food pantry.

> You can't hardly pick up any product that doesn't have corn starch,

> modified food starch, vegetable starch (all mean corn) as an

> ingredient. At the same time, you also see loads of different types

> of sugars.

>

> The reason I know all this? I have a horrific corn allergy that

> gives me a 4 day migraine. I am an avid label reader and have to

> know the hidden ingredients.

>

> Therefore, if a person with mito disorder cannot have corn starch and

> sugar mixed together, do you have to read labels and be a diligent as

> I am to keep the two separated?

>

> What bad things can happen to the child / person if they are mixed?

>

> Do you only have to separate the high amounts of corn starch from

> sugar and the rest is ok?

>

> With Spencers likely abdominal migraines and the highest concentrate

> ingredient in his formula was corn, I removed corn from his diet.

> According to the allergist, the next step would be to put him back on

> corn and see what he does. If he starts vomiting again, it was the

> corn.

>

> I am seeing the GP tomorrow and was going to discuss putting Spencer

> on Tapioca flour in leu of corn starch. I did read on a link that

> substituting anything for the corn starch wouldn't work. Why not?

> Because corn starch has the particular type of slow releasing sugar?

>

> Other questions, do you take your childrens blood sugar on a daily

> basis to make sure it is in line? If I were to ask the GP for blood

> sugar tests, what would I ask him to look for? I know the high sugar

> before a meal and the low sugar following the meal. What about other

> times of day? Morning? Bedtime? Are the mito kids on diabetes type

> diets that are low in sugars?

>

> My sons current primary source of nutrition is from the bottle

> because of the vomiting issue. Since coming off the corn and being

> on the Periactin, he is doing a much better job eating solids and not

> gagging and vomiting. The bottle is loaded with Brown Rice Syrup as

> the sweetner. He loves fruits and sweet potatos. It is very

> difficult to get him to eat vegetables. I have to hide them in the

> fruit. He can't eat meats yet without gagging and vomiting. Still

> too thick for him. But just the fact that he can eat the solids he

> can is leaps and bounds improvements.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Bec

>

>

>

>

> Please contact mito-owner with any problems or questions.

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/14/02 8:54:01 AM Pacific Daylight Time,

lfitzger@... writes:

<< I have a recipe (homemade) that I have used. Heat an unsweetened juice (I

use orange or cranberry that has no sugar added). Add enough cornstarch to

make it thickish. Then add already cooked rice and raw cornstarch. You could

also add a very small amount of honey, but I find that the sweetness of the

juice is fine. The juice metabolizes first, then the cooked cornstarch and

the rice and finally the uncooked cornstarch. I like rice pudding, so this

is a treat for me. I would think you could do the same with tapioca, using

it cooked and then adding the tapioca flour.

laurie

>>

Thanks for the great sounding recipe. I'm going to try that for the boys,

especially since we have found that rice pudding works well for them too.

Dena

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/14/02 8:54:01 AM Pacific Daylight Time,

lfitzger@... writes:

<< I have a recipe (homemade) that I have used. Heat an unsweetened juice (I

use orange or cranberry that has no sugar added). Add enough cornstarch to

make it thickish. Then add already cooked rice and raw cornstarch. You could

also add a very small amount of honey, but I find that the sweetness of the

juice is fine. The juice metabolizes first, then the cooked cornstarch and

the rice and finally the uncooked cornstarch. I like rice pudding, so this

is a treat for me. I would think you could do the same with tapioca, using

it cooked and then adding the tapioca flour.

laurie

>>

Thanks for the great sounding recipe. I'm going to try that for the boys,

especially since we have found that rice pudding works well for them too.

Dena

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/14/02 8:54:01 AM Pacific Daylight Time,

lfitzger@... writes:

<< I have a recipe (homemade) that I have used. Heat an unsweetened juice (I

use orange or cranberry that has no sugar added). Add enough cornstarch to

make it thickish. Then add already cooked rice and raw cornstarch. You could

also add a very small amount of honey, but I find that the sweetness of the

juice is fine. The juice metabolizes first, then the cooked cornstarch and

the rice and finally the uncooked cornstarch. I like rice pudding, so this

is a treat for me. I would think you could do the same with tapioca, using

it cooked and then adding the tapioca flour.

laurie

>>

Thanks for the great sounding recipe. I'm going to try that for the boys,

especially since we have found that rice pudding works well for them too.

Dena

[Guest guest]

rebecpeck wrote:

> What is the issue with giving it with a sugar product? Caution upon

> caution was listed. I couldn't find anything on the web.

If you have someone that already has reactive hypoglycemia, or hypoglycemia

that is significant enough to treat with diet manipulation, the first thing

you do is eliminate all the simple sugars. When the blood sugar stabilizes

then you add back a few simple sugars but only at the same feeding as complex

carbohydrates to cover them. If you eat a simple sugar, your body recognizes

the increase in BS in about 10 minutes and responds with insulin production.

The simple sugars only take 20 - 45 minutes to metabolize and you no longer

have a source of energy. Yet if you are hypoglycemic the insulin doesn't

always shut down in time, and once you have metablized the simple sugar, the

insulin keeps on bringing your blood sugar down.

If you eat complex carbs or protein/fat, then your body takes about 45

minutes to metabolize it and realize it as blood sugar, then it lasts for up

to 2 hours or so.

the idea is that if you eat a small amount of simple sugar with a larger

amount of complex carb, than about the time you are finished metabolizing the

simple sugar the complex carb is just kicking in. That way your insulin

doesn't keep on chowing down on your blood sugar without something to chow

on. Your blood sugar remains more stable.

> I am confused. Corn starch is a staple in the American food pantry.

Yes it is, but not in raw form. Most products that contain corn starch are

cooked. If it's cooked, it becomes just another short term (simple) sugar.

If it is raw, it is much more slowly metabolized - like a time release energy

source. All the differnt sugars are metabolized at different rates.

> Therefore, if a person with mito disorder cannot have corn starch and

> sugar mixed together, do you have to read labels and be a diligent as

> I am to keep the two separated?

It's not that you can't have them together. It's more that you will be

wasting some of the benefit of the cornstarch (long acting energy source) to

cover the simple sugar that you ate with it. You will tend to go thru it

much faster, which defeats the purpose of using it.

> What bad things can happen to the child / person if they are mixed?

maybe nothing. But if you are using it to treat hypoglycemia, the general

rule of thumb is to minimize simple sugars. If you give a simple sugar at

bedtime, and your insulin level continues to crank out long after you have

metabolized the simple sugar, then you will likely wake up with low blood

sugar, headache, nausea etc....

> Do you only have to separate the high amounts of corn starch from

> sugar and the rest is ok?

It's just that you don't want to " waste " the action of the corn starch by

using it to cover the simple sugar. Remember that all of this is based upon

the fact that the person getting the corn starch is hypoglycemic and doesn't

tolerate simple sugars anytime, much less at bedtime.

> I am seeing the GP tomorrow and was going to discuss putting Spencer

> on Tapioca flour in leu of corn starch. I did read on a link that

> substituting anything for the corn starch wouldn't work. Why not?

> Because corn starch has the particular type of slow releasing sugar?

Tapioca is the next best thing. We did a trial and checked repeated blood

sugars at 1 - 2 hour intervals and it appeared to have the same effect. Also

it is sometimes used in glycogen storage disease when cornstarch isn't

tolerated.

> Other questions, do you take your childrens blood sugar on a daily

> basis to make sure it is in line?

Yes, but only because she had a history of losing consciousness, and seizures

related to low blood sugar. She is also adrenal insufficient, which also

affects her blood sugar. Most docs don't want you checking blood sugar, just

to make sure it's ok. You check it if your symptomatic, and you can sort of

test that theory by feeding to see if symptoms respond. If not, then it may

not be worth checking blood sugar. I am definately not advocating checking

blood sugar on a daily basis, unless there is clearly a medical need.

If there is a signficant problem with blood sugar being too low, there will

be symptoms.

Jeannine

[Guest guest]

More questions.

Simple sugars. What is included in the simple sugars category?

My 5 yo and myself cannot tolerate processed sugar, honey, corn

syrup, etc. We only use fruit sweetners and Brown Rice Syrup.

Because of familial allergies, I treat Spencer as if he has the same

allergies and keep him away from the same sugars. He only drinks a

formula with Brown Rice Syrup. He doesn't get any food that has any

added sugar, honey, processed sugar, corn syrup, etc.

Since I pulled him off the Corn Syrup formula in mid May, I have

noticed a significant improvement in his skills. He is eating much

better. Very little vomiting in the last 3 weeks. He is handling

solid foods much better. No gagging and vomiting. He can sit much

better.

I assume that I have pulled the simple sugars from Spencers diet

unless you count the Brown Rice Syrup as a simple sugar.

Thanks,

Bec

[Guest guest]

Bec:

I use to puree food for my kids. With Leah, who has suspected mito, we buy

the meat baby foods when she doesn't like the meat we are eating. Meaning

she can't chew the pieces. Would you also be able to use pedisure? That has

high calories and you can get it in different flavors. We give Pedisure to

Leah when she isn't eating right. She gets her liquids mainly from a bottle

with a habermann feeder. She is just learning to use a cup.

N. mom to Leah

rebecpeck wrote:

> I have been reading the posts regarding the benefits of corn starch

> to keep the sugar levels up through the night.

>

> What is the issue with giving it with a sugar product? Caution upon

> caution was listed. I couldn't find anything on the web.

>

> I am confused. Corn starch is a staple in the American food pantry.

> You can't hardly pick up any product that doesn't have corn starch,

> modified food starch, vegetable starch (all mean corn) as an

> ingredient. At the same time, you also see loads of different types

> of sugars.

>

> The reason I know all this? I have a horrific corn allergy that

> gives me a 4 day migraine. I am an avid label reader and have to

> know the hidden ingredients.

>

> Therefore, if a person with mito disorder cannot have corn starch and

> sugar mixed together, do you have to read labels and be a diligent as

> I am to keep the two separated?

>

> What bad things can happen to the child / person if they are mixed?

>

> Do you only have to separate the high amounts of corn starch from

> sugar and the rest is ok?

>

> With Spencers likely abdominal migraines and the highest concentrate

> ingredient in his formula was corn, I removed corn from his diet.

> According to the allergist, the next step would be to put him back on

> corn and see what he does. If he starts vomiting again, it was the

> corn.

>

> I am seeing the GP tomorrow and was going to discuss putting Spencer

> on Tapioca flour in leu of corn starch. I did read on a link that

> substituting anything for the corn starch wouldn't work. Why not?

> Because corn starch has the particular type of slow releasing sugar?

>

> Other questions, do you take your childrens blood sugar on a daily

> basis to make sure it is in line? If I were to ask the GP for blood

> sugar tests, what would I ask him to look for? I know the high sugar

> before a meal and the low sugar following the meal. What about other

> times of day? Morning? Bedtime? Are the mito kids on diabetes type

> diets that are low in sugars?

>

> My sons current primary source of nutrition is from the bottle

> because of the vomiting issue. Since coming off the corn and being

> on the Periactin, he is doing a much better job eating solids and not

> gagging and vomiting. The bottle is loaded with Brown Rice Syrup as

> the sweetner. He loves fruits and sweet potatos. It is very

> difficult to get him to eat vegetables. I have to hide them in the

> fruit. He can't eat meats yet without gagging and vomiting. Still

> too thick for him. But just the fact that he can eat the solids he

> can is leaps and bounds improvements.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Bec

>

>

> Please contact mito-owner with any problems or questions.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thx for the thought, . However, I avoid all milk and corn

products. Pediasure has both of these. Interestingly enough, I only

dropped the corn a month ago. Spencer stopped vomiting shortly

thereafter! hmmmm

Just saw the GP today. I asked if it was the Periactin or the

dumping corn that stopped the vomiting. We don't know since we did

both at the same time. He wants me to stop the Periactin for a short

stint to see what happens.

ALSO (for those of you getting excited about possible hypoglycemic

reactions), he is VERY in favor of testing the Glucose levels for a

week. I would want to monitor the sugar levels first before I

dropped the Periactin. Then when I drop the Periactin I could tell

if it impacted his sugar levels. Doc stated that I should watch him

close. If he started to wilt, check the sugar and dose with

Periactin if necessary to get him to eat. Doc would like to drop the

Periactin if possible.

He wants me to try Spencer off the Periactin to see if he contiues to

do well. If so, the vomiting would be attributed to the corn!!

Pretty severe allergy!

Also, encouraged me to not increase the Lamictal beyond the 2.5 mg

twice a day until we can determine if we can drop the Periactin. He

didn't see any of the staring during the 1.5 hours we were with him.

He asked me to watch Spenc close on that, too. He did suggest I call

the Neuro Doc and the GI Doc to get their blessings, too. But am

feeling very good about this. At some point, we would need to rerun

the EEG to see what it looks like off the Zofran and lower dose of

Periactin.

Bec

[Guest guest]

rebecpeck wrote:

>Simple sugars. What is included in the simple sugars category?

juices, fruits, catsup, candy, sweets, etc..

Read the label and check the number of carbohydrates, and then check the

number of sugars. If the amount of sugar is half or more of the total carbs,

then we consider it a simple sugar.

For instance you can find some granola bars that have a total of 18 carbs,

but only 8 or so are sugar, the rest are complex carbs and fiber. In that

case there is probably enough fiber and complex carbs to " cover " the simple

sugar.

Jeannine

[Guest guest]

rebecpeck wrote:

>Simple sugars. What is included in the simple sugars category?

juices, fruits, catsup, candy, sweets, etc..

Read the label and check the number of carbohydrates, and then check the

number of sugars. If the amount of sugar is half or more of the total carbs,

then we consider it a simple sugar.

For instance you can find some granola bars that have a total of 18 carbs,

but only 8 or so are sugar, the rest are complex carbs and fiber. In that

case there is probably enough fiber and complex carbs to " cover " the simple

sugar.

Jeannine