QUESTION: How to raise blood sugar level quickly?
If your blood sugar is below 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L) and you are awake and able to swallow, take about 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate, wait 15 minutes, and check your blood sugar again.
Good choices include glucose tablets or gel, 1/2 cup (4 oz) of fruit juice or regular soda, or 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey. If your glucose is still below 70 mg/dL, repeat the treatment.
Answer by Dr. Albana Greca, MD, MMedSc
Hi there,
When your blood sugar falls too low, the important thing is to recognize it and treat it quickly. I also want you to know what works fastest, because not every sweet food raises glucose at the same speed.
Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, may cause shaking, sweating, sudden hunger, a fast heartbeat, dizziness, headache, blurred vision, irritability, weakness or confusion.
If you have these symptoms and a glucose meter or CGM is available, check your blood sugar. A reading below 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L) is considered low and should be treated promptly. If your meter uses different units, the blood sugar mmol/L to mg/dL converter can help you compare the numbers.
If you are awake and can swallow safely, I explain the treatment to my patients as the 15-15 rule: take about 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate and check again after 15 minutes.
Fast choices include:
If the reading is still below 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L), take another 15 grams and check again after another 15 minutes.
Once your glucose has recovered, if your next meal is not coming soon, a small snack containing carbohydrate and protein may help prevent another drop.
I would not choose chocolate as the first treatment when faster glucose is available. Chocolate contains fat, which can slow the absorption of sugar. Glucose tablets, glucose gel, juice or regular soda usually work more predictably when you need to raise blood sugar quickly.
A reading below 54 mg/dL (3.0 mmol/L) is clinically significant hypoglycemia and needs immediate attention. Confusion, difficulty speaking, unusual behavior, weakness or worsening symptoms can occur as glucose falls further.
A person who is unconscious, having a seizure or unable to swallow safely should not be given juice, food, tablets or honey by mouth because of the risk of choking.
Glucagon is an emergency treatment for severe hypoglycemia. It is especially important when a person cannot safely swallow or needs another person to help with treatment.
People who use insulin or have a significant risk of severe hypoglycemia should discuss keeping glucagon available. Depending on the product, it may be given by injection or through the nose. Family members or caregivers should know where it is kept and how to use it.
If someone is unconscious, having a seizure or cannot swallow, use glucagon if available and contact emergency medical services.
After you are safe, try to understand why the low happened. Common reasons include too much insulin or certain diabetes medicines, delaying or skipping a meal, eating less carbohydrate than expected, strenuous exercise or alcohol.
If your readings repeatedly fall into the 45-69 mg/dL low blood sugar range, the pattern deserves medical review rather than simply treating each episode with sugar.
For a wider view of when glucose becomes concerning, compare your result with the dangerous blood sugar levels and emergency warning signs.
If you are prone to hypoglycemia, keep a fast source of glucose with you. Glucose tablets are convenient because you know approximately how much carbohydrate you are taking.
Remember the sequence: recognize the symptoms, check if possible, take fast-acting carbohydrate, wait 15 minutes and check again.
If you are having frequent lows, nighttime episodes or low readings without warning symptoms, please discuss them with your doctor because your diabetes treatment may need adjustment.
All the best,
Dr. Albana Greca