First aid for low blood sugar

In people who use insulin or certain diabetes medicines, blood sugar can drop quickly, and the symptoms sometimes resemble drunkenness. Fast-acting sugar usually helps within minutes. This guide explains what to do in different situations.

You will need

• Fast-acting sugar: glucose tablets, sugar cubes or sugary juice
• A phone
• A blood glucose meter, if available
• A snack to have after the sugar

Steps

1. Recognise the symptoms

   Symptoms of low blood sugar include sweating, shaking, paleness, hunger, a pounding heart, irritability, confusion and slurred speech. Ask directly whether they have diabetes.

2. Give sugar straight away

3. Measure if you can

4. Wait and repeat

5. Give a snack

6. If they are unconscious

7. Glucagon

8. Call 112 when needed

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