Taking insulin shots, medicine, and eating healthy can help you manage diabetes. But you can't drop your guard just yet. And it may not be for the reason you think!
"Insulin and certain medications can increase the risk of hypoglycemia [low blood sugar]," says Jessica DeCostole, RDN, LDN, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist (CDCES) at the Geckle Diabetes & Nutrition Center in the Greater Baltimore Medical Center. "When you are on [meds, doing] more activity than usual, skipping a meal, or taking your medication at the wrong time [can] trigger low blood sugar."
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) can happen when you have:
- Too much insulin
- Too little food
- Not enough sugar (glucose)
In fact, low blood sugar is the most common problem for type 1 and type 2 diabetes. If you don't treat it in time, low blood sugar can lead to insulin shock. It's a serious form of hypoglycemia. If untreated, it can lead to a seizure, coma, or even death. To prevent this, you'll need to quickly raise your glucose.
Tips to Quickly Raise Blood Sugar Levels
Dips in your blood sugar can happen suddenly. Here are some tips to help you stay healthy.
Listen to your body
Know your own symptoms when your blood sugar drops. This can give you time to react.
"Symptoms of hypoglycemia can [mean] feeling shaky, sweaty, tired, hungry, irritable, or a headache," says DeCostole. "Most people will not experience all of these feelings, and some people may not have symptoms when their blood sugar is low."
This is why regular blood sugar checks are a good idea. With low blood sugar, you might have:
- Tingling or numbness in your lips, tongue, or cheeks (paresthesia)
- Slurred speech
- Blurry vision
- Racing, pounding, or fluttering heart (palpitations)
- Hunger
- Anxiety
- Dizziness, weakness, or confusion
At night, your blood sugar can drop too low. You may sweat more than usual or have nightmares, which may leave you feeling unrested. You can also feel tired or irritable after waking.
Test your glucose at the first sign of symptoms
There are many ways to test your glucose. If you have signs of low blood sugar, you can use:
- A glucose monitor: These glucose monitors take a drop of blood from your finger. The glucometer can test how much glucose is in your blood.
- A continuous monitor: This means you place a small sensor just under your skin. The sensor regularly checks your blood sugar level. This information goes to your smartphone or insulin pump.
Blood sugar is commonly measured in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). Low blood sugar can happen if your "glucose level falls below 70 mg/dL," DeCostole says. You can adjust your treatment and eat carbohydrates before measuring your levels again after 15 minutes.
Always carry quick-sugar foods with you
To raise your blood sugar quickly, eat 15 grams of simple carbohydrates. Simple carbs can break down quickly to spike your blood sugar levels. People with diabetes can follow the "rule of 15," says DeCostole. “When blood sugar is low, have 15 grams of fast-acting carbs."
DeCostole suggests 15 grams of fast-acting glucose such as:
- A 1/2 cup juice or soda [not diet]
- Four Mentos
- Six Life Savers
- Four glucose tabs
"Stash these in your car or purse, so you can be prepared for low blood sugar," says DeCostole. Other sources include four or five saltine crackers, one tablespoon of honey, or eight hard candies.
Wait for 15 minutes
Continue with the rule of 15, check your blood sugar level again after 15 minutes. If your sugar is still low, repeat your quick snack until your levels return to normal.
Prepare for a blood sugar emergency
If your quick-sugar foods aren't working or you can't eat or drink, you may get serious symptoms. This can be a sign of insulin shock. Talk to your doctor about a glucagon kit. You'll need a prescription for the kit.
Glucagon is a hormone made by your pancreas. It signals your liver to release stored glucose into your bloodstream. This can raise your blood sugar levels.
A glucagon kit comes as an injection or a nasal spray. The kit can raise your low blood sugar in emergencies.
Ask for help before your glucose drops
It can help to tell your family, friends, and co-workers about your diabetes. They can help you if your blood sugar drops too low or you pass out. Tell them about your low blood sugar symptoms.
Also, share how you treat your low blood sugar. Tell them about:
- What types and amounts of food to give you.
- Your emergency glucagon kit, if you have one. Show them how to give it to you.
- When to call 911 and what to say to the emergency dispatcher.
ID yourself
Always wear your medical ID bracelet or necklace. Your health information can help others treat you in case you pass out.
Talk to your doctor about hypoglycemia
For most people, hypoglycemia can be easy to treat. But sometimes, you can have low blood sugar problems several times a week or serious episodes. If this happens, call your doctor.
You might need to change your insulin or oral medicines. Your doctor can also talk to you about your diet or adjust your workout time. That's because exercise can affect your insulin levels.
When to see a doctor
If your blood sugar drops too low, you can pass out, have a seizure, or go into a coma. And if untreated, you can get a life-threatening abnormal heart rhythm in your lower heart chambers. This is also called a ventricular arrhythmia.
“The most concerning thing is when you are treating the blood sugar but it is not coming up or continues to go down," says DeCostole. "Severe low blood sugar below 55mg/dL may cause the person to not be able to respond, or treat the blood sugar."
Get medical help right away, call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room if you:
- Have signs of low blood sugar, and you don't have diabetes
- Pass out
- Treat your blood sugar levels, but it isn't working
- Have a history of low blood sugar or diabetes and show signs of seriously low blood sugar levels
What Foods Raise Blood Sugar Quickly?
Certain foods can raise your blood sugar quickly. These foods break down into glucose after about 15 minutes. That's why you'll follow the rule of 15.
“The foods that raise blood sugar are typically the foods we normally tell you to stay away from because they raise glucose so fast,” DeCostole says. “But in the case of a low blood sugar you want it to come up fast.”
Here are some other options you can try:
- One tablespoon of jam or jelly
- One tablespoon of sugar in water
- 12 gummy bears
- A small piece of fruit, such as an apple, orange, or half a banana
- One cup of fat-free milk
- Six large jelly beans
- 15 Skittles
- Five small gumdrops
- Two tablespoons of raisins
Foods that may not help raise your blood sugars quickly
Lots of foods can raise your blood sugar. But some foods don't raise it quickly enough, especially if you're hypoglycemic. That's because fats can slow down how glucose is absorbed. Or the food has complex carbohydrates instead of the fast-acting, simple ones.
Avoid foods like these if you need sugar fast:
- Chocolate
- Peanut butter
- Nuts, including nut or protein bars
- Fatty foods
Takeaways
With diabetes, you can get low blood sugar (hypoglycemic) even with treatment. Most of the time, you can raise your blood sugar by eating a high-sugar food with simple carbohydrates. But if your hypoglycemia doesn't go away, continues to happen, or drops too low, get medical help right away for this life-threatening condition.
FAQs on How to Boost Blood Sugar Levels
What is the danger zone for low blood sugar?
A blood glucose level below 70 mg/dL is considered hypoglycemia. But your numbers could be different. Talk to your doctor about your numbers. Look for signs of hypoglycemia and treat it right away. If your blood sugar drops too low, get medical help right away.
Does not eating raise blood sugar?
No, not eating doesn't raise blood sugar; it actually lowers it. If you're taking insulin or diabetes medication, not eating can put you at risk for hypoglycemia.
Does milk raise blood sugar?
Yes, milk can raise your blood sugar. A cup of fat-free milk is one option to quickly raise your blood sugar.
What is the best drink for low blood sugar?
You can drink half a cup of fruit juice or non-diet soda to help raise your blood sugar.
Do almonds raise blood sugar?
No, almonds are nuts and don't raise your blood sugar. In fact, almonds are often suggested as a healthy snack for people who have diabetes. Some research shows they may help regulate your blood sugar.
