Sweet Ease

[southernseeker]

I live in an area with one of the highest rates of obesity and diabetes in the US. We use Sweetease for IV starts, circumcisions, etc. I have been unable to find any info about how this medication affects blood sugar, leads to cravings for sweets, etc. Culturally, food is a really important thing here and many caretakers/parents use candy and other sweets to reward/calm/bribe their children. I really wonder about the appropriateness of using this med for comfort reasons, esp in an area where obesity and diabetes are such a problem. Would welcome any comments/advice about this.

[iluvivt, BSN, RN]

But you are only using it for medical procedures since the sucrose is thought to activate the endogenous opioid system and reduce the pain of the procedure. It is not like it is a lifestyle choice that can lead to obesity and then diabetes. Are you thinking that a little bit of sucrose is going to have an adverse effect on them well into adulthood then leading to diabetes.

I agree with you on the candy though. It is just empty calories.

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

You're making it sound like this is being used on older people who may actually be at risk of type 2 diabetes. I've only ever seen it on neonates.

[holliewood]

But you are only using it for medical procedures since the sucrose is thought to activate the endogenous opioid system and reduce the pain of the procedure.

This. Use it appropriately.

[ixchel]

Are you a student? A nurse? A parent? Consider the risks vs. benefits. If the intention is pain relief minus pain medication, the benefit is avoiding more harmful substances than some sugar. Exposing an infant once or twice in my opinion is no more risky than giving a healthy 4-year old a cookie.