Low blood sugar
What to do for low blood sugar: the 15 to 20 gram rule, step by step
What to do for low blood sugar: for many people with diabetes, a reading below 70 mg/dL is low. NIDDK says to eat or drink 15 to 20 grams of glucose or carbohydrate, recheck after 15 minutes and repeat if still low. Loss of consciousness or a seizure needs glucagon if available and a call to 911.
Written by the Olivaro label deskUpdated · 5 min read
The rule
What should you do for low blood sugar?
What to do for low blood sugar comes down to three moves: eat or drink 15 to 20 grams of glucose or carbohydrate, wait 15 minutes, and check again (NIDDK, Low blood glucose (hypoglycemia)).
NIDDK says that for many people with diabetes, low means a reading below 70 mg/dL. Your own target may differ, so ask your care team which number applies to you. If the second reading is still low, repeat the steps.
Signs include feeling shaky or jittery, hunger, tiredness, dizziness, confusion or irritability, a fast or irregular heartbeat, headache, and trouble seeing or speaking clearly.
Low blood sugar: what NIDDK says
- Feeling shaky or jittery
- Hunger
- Tiredness
- Dizziness
- Confusion or irritability
- A fast or irregular heartbeat
- Headache
- Trouble seeing or speaking clearly
What the sources say to doFor many people with diabetes, low means a reading below 70 mg/dL (your targets may differ: ask your team). NIDDK says to eat or drink 15 to 20 grams of glucose or carbohydrate, recheck after 15 minutes and repeat if still low.
Severe symptomsCall 911Loss of consciousness or a seizure needs treatment right away: glucagon if available, and call 911.
Who is more likely to have lowsInsulin and two kinds of diabetes pills (sulfonylureas and meglitinides) can cause low blood sugar. A supplement that might lower blood sugar adds to that: ask your pharmacist.
Not medical advice. A home meter reading is your own data, not an Olivaro result. (NIDDK, Low blood glucose (hypoglycemia)) (NIH ODS, Chromium)
Hypoglycemia treatment
What is the hypoglycemia treatment when someone cannot swallow?
Severe hypoglycemia is treated with glucagon, and a bystander should call 911 after giving it (NIDDK, Low blood glucose (hypoglycemia)).
NIDDK says loss of consciousness or a seizure needs treatment right away. Ask your clinician ahead of time whether glucagon fits your plan, and who around you knows where it is kept.
| Situation | What NIDDK says |
|---|---|
| Awake, reading below 70 mg/dL | Eat or drink 15 to 20 grams of glucose or carbohydrate |
| 15 minutes later | Recheck; repeat if still low |
| Unconscious or seizing | Glucagon if available; call 911 |
| Low readings keep happening | Tell your care team; targets or medicine may need a review |
Medicines
Which medicines can cause low blood sugar?
Insulin and two kinds of diabetes pills, sulfonylureas and meglitinides, can cause low blood sugar (NIDDK, Low blood glucose (hypoglycemia)).
A supplement that might lower blood sugar adds to those medicines. NIH says chromium taken with insulin could raise the risk of low blood sugar and might add to the effect of metformin (NIH ODS, Chromium). That is a reason to ask a pharmacist before adding any supplement.
Keep taking prescribed medicine; never stop or change it because of a supplement. Signs of severe low blood sugar (confusion, fainting, seizure), chest pain or trouble breathing: call 911.
Olivaro liquid: 30 mL a bottle1 mL serving · 2, 3 or 6 bottles · from $49 a bottle · shipping at checkout
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Is Olivaro a treatment for low blood sugar?
No. Olivaro is a liquid dietary supplement, not a drug, and its label makes no claim to treat or prevent low blood sugar.
The front prints “Balanced Blood Sugar Advanced Support*”, and the star leads to the FDA statement that the claim has not been evaluated. We found no trial that tested Olivaro, so nothing here shows it affects a low reading. Chromium is the one printed amount, 0.7 mcg (2% of the 35 mcg Daily Value); the other 22 blend ingredients share 200 mg with no amounts. See the side effects page and medicine interactions.
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See 6 bottlesSeller-listed prices; confirm at checkout (Olivaro sales site). Two bottles are also sold. If you take diabetes medicine or insulin, ask your clinician or pharmacist before you order.
FAQ
Olivaro questions people ask
How long should you wait before rechecking a low reading?
NIDDK says to recheck after 15 minutes. If the reading is still low, eat or drink another 15 to 20 grams of glucose or carbohydrate and check again after another 15 minutes. If it keeps falling or you feel worse, get medical help.
Can low blood sugar happen without diabetes medicine?
Our sources cover low blood sugar in people who use insulin or certain diabetes pills. We found no source in this set on other causes. If you have signs of low blood sugar and do not take those medicines, see a clinician to find out why.
What should a family member do if someone passes out?
Call 911. NIDDK says loss of consciousness needs treatment right away, and glucagon is used if it is available. Ask the person's clinician ahead of time whether glucagon is part of the plan and who has been shown how to give it.
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Pages built from the label, the seller's brief and linked NIH, FDA, CDC, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is the information site of a USA Authorized Olivaro Retailer. It is not the manufacturer, and the label names Instituto Experience as the distributor. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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