Guide
Low blood sugar signs and what to do: a hypoglycemia guide
Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, often shows as shakiness, hunger, dizziness or confusion. For many people with diabetes, low means a reading below 70 mg/dL. NIDDK says to eat or drink 15 to 20 grams of carbohydrate and recheck after 15 minutes. Loss of consciousness or a seizure: call 911.
Written by the Olivaro label deskUpdated
The basics
What is low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)?
Low blood sugar, called hypoglycemia, means the sugar (glucose) in the blood has fallen too low for the body to work well. For many people with diabetes, that means a meter reading below 70 mg/dL (NIDDK, Low blood glucose (hypoglycemia)).
Your own target may differ, so ask your care team what number counts as low for you. A number alone never replaces a clinician's advice.
Insulin and two kinds of diabetes pills, sulfonylureas and meglitinides, can cause low blood sugar (NIDDK, Low blood glucose (hypoglycemia)). That is why this topic matters for anyone who takes diabetes medicine. Keep taking prescribed medicine exactly as directed, and talk with your clinician about any change.
It is a dietary supplement sold as a liquid. We found no study that shows it causes or prevents low blood sugar. This guide covers the general topic first and ties it to the label in one short section below.
Warning signs
What are the signs and symptoms of low blood sugar?
Early signs are shakiness, hunger, tiredness, dizziness, confusion or irritability, a fast or irregular heartbeat, headache, and trouble seeing or speaking clearly (NIDDK, Low blood glucose (hypoglycemia)).
Signs differ from person to person, and the same person can feel different signs on different days. Some people feel nothing until the level is quite low. If you use insulin or take diabetes pills, learn your own early signs and tell the people around you what to watch for.
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)
Several signs overlap with other problems, such as too much caffeine or a missed meal. A meter reading settles the question faster than guessing.
What to do
What should you do for low blood sugar right now?
NIDDK says to eat or drink 15 to 20 grams of glucose or carbohydrate, wait 15 minutes, recheck, and repeat if the reading is still low (NIDDK, Low blood glucose (hypoglycemia)).
Check, if you can
Use your meter. A reading below 70 mg/dL fits the NIDDK definition for many people with diabetes.
Take 15 to 20 grams of fast carbohydrate
Glucose gel or chewable glucose is made for this. Ask your care team which foods and drinks they want you to use, and how many grams each holds.
Recheck after 15 minutes
If the reading is still low, repeat the carbohydrate. Keep going until the level comes up, then follow the meal plan your team gave you.
Tell your care team
A low reading is information for your clinician. Report it, especially if it happened more than once or came without a clear reason.
Emergency
When is low blood sugar an emergency?
It is an emergency when someone loses consciousness or has a seizure. Call 911 (NIDDK, Low blood glucose (hypoglycemia)).
NIDDK says loss of consciousness or a seizure needs treatment right away, with glucagon if it is available. If you live with someone who uses insulin, ask their clinician how glucagon works and where it is kept.
Fainting, a seizure, confusion that does not clear after treatment, chest pain, or trouble breathing. Do not wait to see if it passes.
Get care the same day if low readings keep coming back or the carbohydrate step does not bring the level up.
- Shaky, sweaty, confused, very hungry, a fast heartbeatThese can be signs of low blood sugar. NIDDK says to eat or drink 15 to 20 grams of carbohydrate and recheck in 15 minutes; get care if it keeps happening.
- Fainting, a seizure or being unable to wake someoneCall 911. Severe low blood sugar needs treatment right away.
- Chest pain, a racing or irregular heartbeat, trouble breathingStop the liquid. Chest pain, fainting or trouble breathing: call 911 now.
- Dark urine, yellow skin or eyes, belly pain, nauseaCan be signs of liver trouble, which LiverTox lists as a rare possibility with gymnema and green tea extract. Stop and get medical care the same day.
- Rash, hives or swellingPossible allergy. Stop and get medical help; swelling of the face or throat or trouble breathing is an emergency.
- A dog or other pet swallowed someThe liquid contains xylitol. Call a vet, an emergency clinic or animal poison control right away (FDA).
Signs from (NIDDK, Low blood glucose (hypoglycemia)) (LiverTox, Gymnema) (FDA, Xylitol dangerous for dogs) (FDA report a problem). This list is not complete. A supplement is never a reason to wait.
Olivaro liquid: 30 mL a bottle1 mL serving · 2, 3 or 6 bottles · from $49 a bottle · shipping at checkout
See the priceMedicine and supplements
Can supplements and diabetes medicine cause low blood sugar together?
They can, which is why a pharmacist should see your list before you add any supplement. A supplement that might lower blood sugar adds to medicine that already can (NIDDK, Low blood glucose (hypoglycemia)).
The NIH fact sheet on chromium says that chromium can add to the effect of insulin and metformin and cause low blood sugar, and that its effect on glucose is unclear (NIH ODS, Chromium). NCCIH advises telling your providers about any herbal supplement, because supplements can interact with diabetes medicines (NCCIH, Diabetes and dietary supplements). NCCIH also says Asian ginseng might lower blood sugar, and that anyone with diabetes should talk with a provider (NCCIH, Asian ginseng).
The ADA's Standards of Care do not recommend herbs or micronutrients for glycemic benefit, saying the evidence is insufficient (ADA 2026, Standards of Care, supplements). That does not mean every ingredient raises a risk, and it does not mean any is harmless. It means a supplement is not a plan. Never stop, skip or change a prescribed medicine because of one.
A checklist of pharmacist questions is on the medicine interactions page.
The Olivaro label
Does Olivaro cause or prevent low blood sugar?
We found no study that shows either. No trial tested Olivaro, and the label prints no amount for 22 of its ingredients.
The front prints “Balanced Blood Sugar Advanced Support*”, and the star leads to the line that the FDA has not evaluated the statement. The Supplement Facts panel lists chromium at 0.7 mcg, which is 2% of a 35 mcg Daily Value, and a Proprietary Blend of 22 ingredients with one total of 200 mg (Olivaro label). Several blend ingredients, such as gymnema, ginseng and green tea, are studied in people with diabetes in other forms and at other doses, usually larger. Those studies did not test this liquid.
What the label gives you
One chromium amount, one blend total, and a caution to ask a physician if you have a known medical condition.
What it leaves out
Any per-ingredient amount, any caffeine amount, and any test showing what it does to a reading.
If you take insulin or diabetes pills, ask your clinician or pharmacist before you try it. Read the medicine interactions guide and the side effects page for the longer picture.
Everyday steps
How can you lower the chance of a low reading?
The steps come from your care team, not from a supplement: follow your medicine plan, test as advised and tell your team about any change in food, activity or products you use.
| Habit | Why it comes up |
|---|---|
| Keep prescribed medicine as directed | Insulin and some diabetes pills can cause low blood sugar (NIDDK, Low blood glucose (hypoglycemia)). |
| Know your own early signs | Signs vary, and acting early is easier than treating a very low level. |
| Carry a fast carbohydrate | It lets you act on the 15 to 20 gram step at once. |
| Tell your team about every supplement | NCCIH says supplements can interact with diabetes medicines (NCCIH, Diabetes and dietary supplements). |
| Ask about testing | Fasting glucose and A1C tests show a longer picture than symptoms do. See when to see a clinician. |
Pregnant or nursing mothers, anyone under 18 and anyone with a known medical condition should consult a physician before using this or any dietary supplement, as the Olivaro label says (Olivaro label). This guide is general information, and it cannot diagnose or treat any condition.
FAQ
Low blood sugar questions
What blood sugar level counts as low?
For many people with diabetes, NIDDK defines low as a reading below 70 mg/dL. Your own target may differ, so ask your care team what number counts as low for you. A single reading is information, not a diagnosis, and it should be shared with your clinician.
How many grams of carbohydrate treat low blood sugar?
NIDDK says to eat or drink 15 to 20 grams of glucose or carbohydrate, wait 15 minutes, then recheck. If the reading is still low, repeat. Ask your care team which foods and amounts they prefer for you.
What are the first signs of hypoglycemia?
Common early signs are feeling shaky or jittery, hunger, tiredness, dizziness, confusion or irritability, a fast or irregular heartbeat, headache, and trouble seeing or speaking clearly. Not everyone feels the same signs, so learn your own pattern.
When should I call 911 for low blood sugar?
Call 911 if someone loses consciousness or has a seizure. NIDDK says that needs treatment right away, with glucagon if it is available. Also call for chest pain or trouble breathing.
Can a supplement make low blood sugar worse?
A supplement that might lower blood sugar adds to medicine that can. NIH says chromium can add to insulin and metformin. Ask your pharmacist before adding one, and never change a prescribed medicine because of a supplement.
Does Olivaro cause hypoglycemia?
We found no study that tested Olivaro, so we cannot say. The label lists chromium and a 22-ingredient blend with no per-ingredient amounts. If you take insulin or diabetes pills, ask a clinician or pharmacist first.
Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
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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