From the Guidelines
For a patient with a blood sugar level of 60 mg/dL, approximately 20 grams of oral glucose or the equivalent in glucose-containing foods should be given to rapidly restore blood glucose levels, as recommended by the 2024 American Heart Association and American Red Cross guidelines for first aid 1. The administration of oral glucose can be in the form of tablets or gels, with tablets resulting in higher blood glucose levels than buccally applied glucose.
- Key points to consider:
- Oral glucose tablets have demonstrated better resolution of symptoms 15 minutes after treatment compared with dietary sugars such as sucrose, fructose, orange juice, jellybeans, candy tablets, and milk 1.
- After consuming the sugar, blood glucose should be rechecked after 15 minutes, as suggested by the guidelines 1.
- If the blood glucose remains below 70 mg/dL, the treatment should be repeated, and once blood glucose rises above 70 mg/dL, the patient should eat a small meal or snack containing protein and complex carbohydrates to maintain stable blood sugar levels. The approach of using oral glucose to treat hypoglycemia works because pure glucose is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream, quickly raising blood sugar levels to address the immediate danger of hypoglycemia, and the 15-minute waiting period allows sufficient time for the sugar to be absorbed and affect blood glucose levels, while the follow-up meal helps prevent recurrence of hypoglycemia.
- It is essential to note that untreated hypoglycemia can cause seizures, status epilepticus, permanent brain injury, and death, making prompt treatment crucial 1.
From the Research
Sugar Pill Dosage
- The studies provided do not mention the use of sugar pills for treating hypoglycemia. However, they do discuss the use of glucagon and dextrose (a type of sugar) in treating hypoglycemia.
- According to the studies 2, 3, 25g of intravenous dextrose is used to treat hypoglycemia.
Blood Glucose Measurement
- The studies do not provide a specific time frame for measuring blood glucose after consumption of sugar pills, as sugar pills are not mentioned in the studies.
- However, the studies 2, 3, 4 measure plasma glucose at fixed intervals after treatment with glucagon or dextrose to achieve a glycaemia profile.
- The time to recovery and glycaemia profiles are recorded, with recovery times ranging from 1 to 3 minutes for intravenous glucose and 8 to 21 minutes for intramuscular glucagon 4.
- The studies suggest that blood glucose levels should be monitored after treatment to ensure recovery from hypoglycemia 2, 3, 4.