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Signs of Low Blood Sugar: Symptoms and What to Do
Signs of low blood sugar include shakiness, sweating, hunger, dizziness, confusion, irritability and a racing heartbeat. For many people with diabetes, a reading below 70 mg/dL is low. Treat with 15 to 20 grams of fast carbohydrate and recheck in 15 minutes. Severe lows need 911.
Written by the GLPro label deskUpdated · 4 min read
01The signs
What are the signs of low blood sugar?
The signs of low blood sugar are shakiness, sweating, hunger, tiredness, dizziness, confusion, irritability, a racing heartbeat, headache and trouble seeing or speaking (NIDDK, Low Blood Glucose).
The brain runs on glucose. When the supply drops too low, thinking slows and the body sends alarm signals such as shaking and a fast pulse (Cleveland Clinic, Hypoglycemia).
Early signs often come on fast, within minutes. Some people lose the early warning after many years of diabetes, which is why a meter matters. Severe lows can bring slurred speech, poor coordination, seizures or loss of consciousness (Cleveland Clinic, Hypoglycemia). Those are emergencies.
LOW BLOOD SUGAR
Signs of a low (hypoglycemia)
- Shaking, sweating, hungerOften the first signs
- Racing heartbeat, dizzinessSit down; check if you can
- Irritability, trouble concentratingCan come on fast
- Confusion, trouble seeing or speakingTreat at once
THE NUMBERS DOCTORS USE
What the test results mean
- A1CBelow 5.7% normal · 5.7-6.4% prediabetes · 6.5% or above diabetes
- Fasting glucose99 mg/dL or below normal · 100-125 prediabetes · 126 or above diabetes
- 2-hour glucose test139 mg/dL or below normal · 140-199 prediabetes · 200 or above diabetes
- A low, for many people with diabetesBelow 70 mg/dL
Emergency?A severe low (passing out or a seizure) needs glucagon and a 911 call. For a mild low, take 15 to 20 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate and recheck after 15 minutes.
Signs and steps from NIDDK and Mayo Clinic (NIDDK, Low Blood Glucose) (Mayo Clinic, diabetic hypoglycemia); test cutoffs for non-pregnant adults from NIDDK and CDC (NIDDK, Diabetes Tests & Diagnosis) (CDC, Diabetes Testing). Lows are most likely with insulin, a sulfonylurea or more than one diabetes medicine; some supplements may add to the effect (NIH ODS, Chromium) (NCCIH, Diabetes and Dietary Supplements). Keep taking prescribed medicine.
02The number
What blood sugar level counts as low?
For many people with diabetes, a reading below 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L) is low. Your own number may differ, so ask your clinician what threshold applies to you (NIDDK, Low Blood Glucose) (Mayo Clinic, diabetic hypoglycemia).
People without diabetes can have lows too. Reactive hypoglycemia can appear 2 to 4 hours after eating, and heavy alcohol use, serious illness or hormone problems can also cause it (Cleveland Clinic, Hypoglycemia).
| Level | Typical signs | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Mild to moderate | Shaking, sweating, hunger, dizziness, irritability | 15 to 20 g fast carbohydrate, recheck in 15 minutes (NIDDK, Low Blood Glucose) |
| Severe | Confusion, seizure, loss of consciousness | Glucagon if available and call 911 (NIDDK, Low Blood Glucose) |
03What to do
What should you do when blood sugar is low?
Do not drive while low. Wait until you have recovered and a recheck is normal.
Eat or drink 15 to 20 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate, wait 15 minutes and check again (NIDDK, Low Blood Glucose). Repeat if you are still low.
Check if you can
Use a meter. If you cannot, treat anyway when signs fit.
Take fast carbohydrate
Juice, glucose tablets or regular soda work. Fat and fiber slow absorption, so skip them for now.
Recheck in 15 minutes
Repeat the treatment until you are back above your threshold.
Eat a snack and call your clinician
Report any low, especially if it keeps coming back.
A person who cannot swallow or is unconscious should not be given food or drink. Call 911.
GLPro: from $49 a bottle30 capsules · 2, 3 or 6 bottles · free US shipping on 6 · 60-day money-back guarantee
See packs04Supplements
Can supplements cause low blood sugar?
Alcohol is another trigger. It can cause lows for hours afterward, and activity can also lower blood sugar for up to a day in people on insulin or some diabetes drugs (Mayo Clinic, lifestyle and blood sugar).
Some supplements can too, mostly by adding to diabetes medicines. Insulin and sulfonylureas such as glipizide, glimepiride and glyburide carry the highest risk, and taking more than one diabetes medicine raises it further (Mayo Clinic, diabetic hypoglycemia).
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health notes that supplements can interact with medicines, and some affect surgery (NCCIH, Using Supplements Wisely). Nobody can check GLPro against your drugs, because it publishes no ingredient names, amounts, directions or warnings.
The front reads "Supports Your Blood Sugar". That is a claim, not a safety statement. Read our supplements and medicines guide and ask a pharmacist before combining anything.
Never stop or change a prescription because of a supplement. Do not wait to report a suspected reaction through the FDA safety portal (FDA, Report a Supplement Problem).
05Next step
When should you call a doctor about low blood sugar?
Keep a short log of each low: the time, the reading, what you ate and what you took. Patterns help your care team change the plan safely.
Teach family and coworkers the signs too. A person in the middle of a low may not notice their own confusion.
Call your clinician after any low that needed treatment, and after any repeated low. Call 911 for seizures, fainting or confusion that does not clear. If you started a new product just before the signs, stop and report it.
If you order GLPro, read the bottle panel on arrival and use the 60-day money-back guarantee if the panel is missing. The order desk number is +1 (302) 200-3480.
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06FAQ
Low blood sugar questions, answered
Q01What does low blood sugar feel like?
Most people feel shaky, sweaty, hungry or dizzy, with a fast heartbeat. Some feel confused or irritable. Signs vary, so learn your own pattern.
Q02Can you have low blood sugar without diabetes?
Yes. Causes include reactive hypoglycemia after meals, heavy alcohol use and some illnesses or hormone problems. See a clinician if it keeps happening.
Q03What is the 15-15 rule for low blood sugar?
Take 15 to 20 grams of fast carbohydrate, wait 15 minutes, then recheck. Repeat until the reading is back to normal and then eat a snack.
Q04Does GLPro cause low blood sugar?
Unknown. GLPro publishes no ingredient list or warnings. If you use diabetes medicine, ask a pharmacist first and read the bottle panel.
07Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the bottle images, the sales page and linked NIH, FDA, CDC, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by a U.S. stocking partner for GLPro, not by the manufacturer. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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More about GLPro
U.S. stocking partner for GLPro
Ready to try GLPro?
Check your medicines first, then pick a pack. Six bottles ship free and cost the least per bottle, and every pack carries the 60-day money-back guarantee.
- Secure checkout
- 60-day money-back guarantee
- Ships from the U.S.