How do you deal with low blood sugar?

Low blood sugar levels can develop rapidly, within minutes. Treat low blood sugar symptoms as soon as you notice them.

Here are some ways to manage a low blood sugar emergency.

Be prepared

• Keep some glucose or sucrose tablets or solution or quick-sugar food with your child at all times.
• Know the symptoms of low blood sugar. Post these symptoms where the list can be seen often, and have your child carry a copy at all times. Add any symptoms that your child has that aren't on the list. Symptoms of low blood sugar include sweating, blurred vision, and confusion.
• Have your child wear medical identification, such as a medical alert bracelet, in case your child's blood sugar drops very low and he or she needs help.
• Keep glucagon on hand. If your child becomes unconscious when his or her blood sugar is very low, someone may need to give your child an injection of glucagon to raise the blood sugar level. Keep the instructions for how to give glucagon with your child's glucagon. Also, check the expiration date on the glucagon—most glucagon kits need to be replaced every 6 months to a year.
• Teach your child's caregivers how to check blood sugar. Have instructions for using the blood sugar meter stored with the meter so the caregiver can review the instructions if needed.
• Post emergency care for low blood sugar instructions in a convenient place at home and at school.

Treat low blood sugar early

• Check your child's blood sugar level if you think it may be low, even if you don't see any symptoms. Follow the steps for treating low blood sugar when your child develops symptoms of low blood sugar or when your child's blood sugar is below his or her target range.
• Write down your child's symptoms and what you did. Use a low blood sugar level record .
• Let the doctor know if your child is having frequent low blood sugar problems. His or her medicine or insulin pump may need to be changed or adjusted.