HYPOGLYCEMIAHypoglycemia Guide — Treat Low Blood Sugar

Eat or drink 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates, wait 15 minutes, then recheck your blood sugar. If it is still below 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L), treat again with another 15g. Repeat until above 70 mg/dL, then eat a small snack to keep blood sugar stable.

Mild: shakiness, sweating, hunger, dizziness, palpitations. Moderate: confusion, blurred vision, slurred speech, weakness, irritability. Severe: seizures, unconsciousness, inability to swallow or respond. Symptoms can appear suddenly — always carry fast-acting carbs.

Fast-acting carbs: 150ml of fruit juice or regular soda, 3–4 glucose tablets, 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey, 4–5 hard candies, or 3–4 sugar packets. Avoid fat-containing foods like chocolate during a hypo — fat slows sugar absorption.

Call emergency services immediately if the person: loses consciousness or cannot be woken up, has a seizure, cannot swallow safely, does not improve after two full 15-15 rule cycles, or if you are unsure about their safety. Never leave an unconscious person alone.

Glucagon is an emergency medication (available as an injection kit or nasal spray) that raises blood sugar rapidly when a person is unconscious or cannot swallow. It should be part of every insulin-dependent diabetic's emergency kit. Even after using glucagon, call emergency services and have the person eat carbs when conscious.