Treating Low Blood Sugar (2024)

You are at risk of having a low blood sugar reaction if you:

Skip or delay a meal or snack
Take too much insulin or eat too few carbohydrates
Exercise
Drink alcohol, especially without eating carbohydrates

Check your blood sugar if you have any of these symptoms:

Weakness and/or fatigue
Headache
Sweating
Anxiety
Dizziness
Shaking
Increased heartbeat

If your blood sugar is less than 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl):

Eat 15 to 30 grams of carbohydrate (sample foods listed below)
Wait 15 minutes and then recheck your blood sugar
If your blood sugar is still less than 100 mg/dl, take another 15 grams of carbohydrate and retest your blood sugar in another 15 minutes. Repeat if necessary.

Important: If you have frequent low blood sugars speak to your doctor. You may need changes in your medication and/or meal plan.

Quick Carbohydrate Guide for Treating Low Blood Sugars

If your blood sugar is less than 70 mg/dl, you need 15 to 30 grams of a quickly absorbed carbohydrate, like the ones listed below. Each of the following servings provides 15 grams of carbohydrate.

Candies and Other Sweets

5 small gum drops
12 gummy bears
6 large jelly beans
5 Life Savers
15 Skittles
1 Tablespoon honey, jam or jelly
1 Tablespoon sugar in water
4 Starburst

Beverages

1/2 cup apple juice
1/2 cup orange or grapefruit juice
1/2 cup pineapple juice
1/2 cup regular soda (not diet)
1/3 cup grape juice
1/3 cup cranberry juice
1/3 cup prune juice
1 cup fat free milk

Fruits

1/2 banana
1 small apple
1 small orange
1/2 cup applesauce
2 tablespoons of raisins
15 grapes

Other

3 to 4 glucose tablets
1 tube glucose gel

Note: The foods listed above are easily absorbed and will raise blood sugar levels quickly. Foods that contain protein or fat – such as chocolate, candy bars, ice cream, cookies, crackers and bread – don't raise blood sugar quickly enough.