How To
Treat Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia)
Keeping your blood
sugar levels on target as much as possible can help prevent or
delay long-term, serious health problems. While this is important, closely
managing your blood sugar levels also increases your chance for low
blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Blood sugar below 70 mg/dL is considered
low. If you think you have low blood sugar, check it. If you aren’t able to
check it, go ahead and treat it.
Untreated low blood sugar can
be dangerous, so it’s important to know what to do about it and to treat it
immediately.
The 15-15 Rule
For low blood sugar between
55-69 mg/dL, raise it by following the 15-15 rule: have 15 grams of carbs and
check your blood sugar after 15 minutes. If it’s still below your target range,
have another serving. Repeat these steps until it’s in your target range. Once
it’s in range, eat a nutritious meal or snack to ensure it doesn’t get too low
again.
The 15-15 Rule
If you have low blood sugar between 55-69 mg/dL, you can treat it
with the 15-15 rule: have 15 grams of carbs. Check it after 15 minutes. Repeat
if you’re still below your target range.
These
items have about 15 grams of carbs:
- 4
ounces (½ cup) of juice or regular soda.
- 1
tablespoon of sugar, honey, or syrup.
- Hard
candies, jellybeans, or gumdrops (see food label for how much to eat).
- 3-4
glucose tablets (follow instructions).
- 1 dose of glucose gel (usually 1
tube; follow instructions).
Tips
to keep in mind:
- It
takes time for blood sugar to rise after eating. Give some time for
treatment to work. Following the 15-15 rule helps.
- Young
children usually need less than 15 grams of carbs, especially infants and
toddlers. Ask your doctor how much your child needs.
- You
should avoid eating a carb with lots of fiber, such as beans or lentils,
or a carb that also has fat, such as chocolate. Fiber and fat slow down
how fast you absorb sugar.
- Check your blood sugar often when
lows are more likely, such as when the weather is hot or when you travel.
Treating Severely Low Blood Sugar
Blood sugar below 55 mg/dL is
considered severely low. You won’t be able to treat it using the 15-15 rule.
You also may not be able to check your own blood sugar or treat it by yourself,
depending on your symptoms. Make sure your family members, friends, and
caregivers know your signs of low blood sugar so they can help treat it if
needed.
Injectable glucagon is the
best way to treat severely low blood sugar. A glucagon kit is available by
prescription. Speak with your doctor to see if you should have a kit. Be sure
to learn how and when to use it. Let family members and others close to you
know where you keep the glucagon kit and make sure they’ve been trained in how
to use it too.
It’s important to contact a doctor for emergency
medical treatment immediately after receiving a glucagon injection. If
a person faints (passes out) due to severely low blood sugar, they’ll usually
wake up within 15 minutes after a glucagon injection. If they don’t wake up
within 15 minutes after the injection, they should receive one more dose. When
the person is awake and able to swallow:
- Feed
the person a fast-acting source of sugar (regular soft drink or fruit
juice).
- Then, have them eat a long-acting
source of sugar (crackers and cheese or a sandwich with meat).
It’s also important that
friends, family, co-workers, teachers, coaches, and other people you may be
around often know how to test your blood sugar and treat severely low blood
sugar before it happens.
A medical ID, usually a
bracelet or necklace, can be critical in keeping you safe and healthy.
Emergency medical technicians are trained to look for a medical ID when caring
for someone who can’t speak for themselves.
After You Have Low Blood Sugar
If your low blood sugar was
mild (between 55-69 mg/dL), you can return to your normal activities once your
blood sugar is back in its target range.
After you have low blood
sugar, your early symptoms for low blood sugar are less noticeable for 48 to 72
hours. Be sure to check your blood sugar more often to keep it from getting too
low again, especially before eating, physical activity, or driving a car.
If you used glucagon because
of a severe low (54 mg/dL or below), immediately call your doctor for emergency
medical treatment. If you have had lows several times close together (even if
they’re not severe), you should also tell you doctor. They may want to change
your diabetes plan.
Know Your Numbers
If you continue to have low
blood sugar episodes, share your blood sugar, insulin, physical activity, and
food logs with your doctor. They may be able to identify patterns and help
prevent lows by adjusting the timing and amount of your insulin, physical
activity, and meals.
See Also: Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia)
PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) and Diabetes
Drugs Used for Treatment of Anemia
High Blood Pressure Symptoms and Causes
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