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Low blood sugar: signs and what to do
Recognise low blood sugar quickly and treat it with the rule of 15.
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Who is at risk?
Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) mostly affects people who take insulin or tablets called sulfonylureas, such as gliclazide. Ask your team whether your medicines can cause it.
Signs
- Shaking, sweating or feeling hungry
- Fast heartbeat or feeling anxious
- Confusion, irritability or blurred vision
- At night: nightmares, sweating or waking with a headache
The rule of 15
- If your blood sugar is below 4 mmol/L (70 mg/dL), take 15 g of fast-acting sugar: about 150 ml of juice or a regular soft drink, or 3–4 glucose tablets.
- Check again after 15 minutes. If it is still low, repeat.
- When it is back up, eat a snack if your next meal is more than an hour away.
Emergency
If someone is unconscious or cannot swallow, do not give food or drink. Call 999.
Next in “New to type 2 diabetes” · step 5 of 7Looking after your eyes, feet and kidneysNext in “Caring for someone” · step 3 of 6Low blood sugar cardNext in “Ramadan-ready” · step 4 of 5Clinic question builder
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DAQIQ Living gives general information, not medical advice. Always follow the plan agreed with your own care team. In an emergency call 999.