Hypoglycemia: How to Identify Symptoms and Treat Low Blood Sugar

The three most common warning signs of hypoglycemia are hunger, trembling or shaking, and a fast heartbeat.³ However, there are many other physical and neurological signs of low blood sugar that you should watch out for:

• Lightheadedness or dizziness
• Headache
• Numbness in the lips, tongue, or fingers
• Sweating, clamminess, or chills
• Sudden weakness or fatigue
• Unexplained crying or intense mood swings
• Irritability or anxiety
• Lack of concentration or confusion

How to Treat Low Blood Sugar: The "15-15" Rule

If you believe you have the symptoms of low blood sugar, you should confirm it immediately with a finger prick blood glucose test or by checking your Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM). If your results indicate that your blood sugar is low, follow the standard 3-step “15-15” rule³:

• Eat or drink 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates.
• Wait a full 15 minutes for the sugar to enter your bloodstream.
• Check your blood glucose levels again. If they are still below 70 mg/dL, repeat the 3 steps.

What is the Best Thing to Eat When Your Blood Sugar is Low?

To get exactly 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates without accidentally over-treating, try³:

• 1/2 cup of fruit juice or regular (non-diet) soda
• 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey
• Jellybeans or hard candies (check the nutrition facts package to determine the exact amount needed)
• Premeasured glucose tablets or gels (typically 3 to 4 tablets)

Once your blood glucose levels have stabilized back to a safe range, you should eat a snack containing longer-acting carbohydrates and protein—such as a sandwich, yogurt, or fruit—to prevent your levels from crashing again.⁴

Note on Hypoglycemia Unawareness: In some cases, people with diabetes don't feel any warning symptoms of a drop in blood sugar. This is known as hypoglycemia unawareness.⁵ If you are unable to feel the physical signs of low blood glucose, talk to your healthcare provider about utilizing a CGM with real-time alarms and fine-tuning your insulin therapy to help you avoid dangerous drops.

What Happens If Your Blood Sugar Gets Too Low?

If low blood sugar goes untreated, it can quickly become an emergency. In cases of severe hypoglycemia, you may become disoriented, lose consciousness, or find yourself physically unable to swallow food or liquids.

That’s why your healthcare provider may recommend that you carry a emergency glucagon rescue kit.⁶ When administered by another person, this injection or nasal spray of the hormone glucagon will quickly stimulate your liver to release stored glucose into your body.³

Take time to talk to your friends, family, and coworkers about the warning signs of low blood sugar and teach them exactly how to use your glucagon rescue kit in an emergency. If you are frequently experiencing hypoglycemia, be sure to consult your healthcare provider to adjust your overall diabetes management plan.

Resources

¹ & ² Glycemic Targets and Definitions: American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee. 6. Glycemic Targets: Standards of Care in Diabetes—2026. Diabetes Care, 2026;49(Suppl. 1). Available at: https://diabetesjournals.org/care/issue. Accessed  on June 30, 2026.
³ Hypoglycemia Symptoms and Treatment Protocols: American Diabetes Association (ADA). Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar). Available at https://diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-care/hypoglycemia. Accessed on June 30, 2026.
⁴ Clinical Guidelines for Mild Hypoglycemia Recovery: Evert AB. Treatment of Mild Hypoglycemia. Diabetes Spectrum, 2014;27(1):58-62. Available at https://diabetesjournals.org/spectrum/article/27/1/58/32283/Treatment-o…. Accessed on June 30, 2026.
⁵ Mechanisms of Symptom Unawareness: Martín-Timón I, Del Cañizo-Gómez FJ. Mechanisms of hypoglycemia unawareness and implications in diabetic patients. World Journal of Diabetes, 2015;6(7):912-926. Available at https://www.wjgnet.com/1948-9358/full/v6/i7/912.htm. Accessed on June 30, 2026.
⁶ Severe Hypoglycemia and Emergency Glucagon Management: Lowe RN, Williams B, Claus L. Diabetes: how to manage patients experiencing hypoglycaemia. Drugs in Context, 2022;11:1-12. Available at https://www.drugsincontext.com/diabetes-how-to-manage-patients-experien…. Accessed on June 30, 2026.