BSWH Diabetes Education 2022
The information provided herein is considered educational and should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or
treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical
conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies.
LOW BLOOD SUGAR (HYPOGLYCEMIA)
Causes of low blood sugar can include:
▪ Not eating enough carbohydrate, or a skipped or delayed meal
▪ Taking too much insulin or diabetes pills
▪ Being more active than usual
Here is how you may feel when your blood sugar is low:
What YOU should do if you feel this way:
1. Check your blood sugar. If you cannot check it, treat for low blood sugar.
2. Treat if your sugar is low (under 70 mg/dl) by eating or drinking something
high in sugar (15 grams of carbohydrate):
▪ 3 or 4 glucose tablets OR
▪ 4 ounces (1/2 cup) of regular fruit juice or regular soda (not diet) OR
▪ 3 to 5 regular hard candies that you can chew quickly (not chocolate)
3. Wait 15 minutes, then check your blood sugar again:
▪ If your blood sugar is still under 70 mg/dl, treat again (repeat step 2).
▪ If your blood sugar is normal again, eat a meal or snack within 30 minutes
to 1 hour to prevent your blood sugar from getting too low again.
▪ If your blood sugar is still under 70 mg/dl after 3 treatments call 911.
4. Call your provider if you had low blood sugar more than once in a week or
if you had to call 911.
