Hypoglycemia

Low blood sugar emergency, usually in people with diabetes who take insulin or certain diabetes medicines

Step by Step

Early signs: shakiness, sweating, hunger, irritability, pale skin, fast heartbeat, confusion. If the person is alert and able to swallow, give something that raises blood sugar quickly, such as a small glass of fruit juice or a sugary non diet drink, or glucose tablets. If symptoms have not improved after about 10 to 15 minutes, give more. Once they feel better, a longer acting snack or meal helps keep blood sugar up. If they are confused and unable to swallow safely, drowsy, having a seizure, or unconscious, call emergency services, give nothing by mouth, and use the recovery position if unresponsive and breathing; people trained to give glucagon may use it. If unsure whether blood sugar is high or low in a conscious person, giving sugar is unlikely to cause harm.