Managing Lows

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Common Foods Used to Correct Low Blood Sugar

The following are common foods that may be used to correct blood sugar and their calorie counts:

Product Serving Size Calories Fat (g) Cholesterol (mg) Sodium (mg) Carbs (g)
  Glucose Tablets made with Dex4   1 Tablet   20   0   0   0   4
  Banana*   1 medium   105   0   0   1   27
  Soda, Cola*   1 - 12 oz can   155   1   0   11   38
  Orange Juice*   8 fl oz   122   0   0   5   29
  Hard Candy*   1 piece   24   0   0   2   6
  Candy Bar*   1 bar (2 oz)   280   14   7   136   35

It is possible to gain weight when trying to correct low blood sugar because the proper foods are not being used or too much food is being consumed. Weight gain may lead to further complications for people with diabetes, so it is important to be smart about what you use to correct low blood sugar. Dex4 glucose tablets, liquids and gels help raise low blood sugar fast and are 80 calories per 4 tablets and 60 calories each for 1 liquid bottle and 1 gel pouch.

Source:

*US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Nutrient Data Laboratory. USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 28. Version Current: September 2015. Internet: http://www.ars.usda.gov/nea/bhnrc/ndl.

Avoid Over Correcting Low Blood Sugar

When using foods and beverages to correct low blood sugar, it is often difficult to only eat as much as you need for a couple of reasons:

  • It is tempting to eat more of these foods than necessary because they taste good and the amount needed (15-20 grams of carbohydrate) is relatively small.
  • Foods and beverages typically take longer to raise blood sugar than pure glucose; therefore, there may be a tendency to eat more than you need because you are trying to stop the symptoms of low blood sugar as quickly as possible.

If you are experiencing frequent hypoglycemia, consult with your healthcare professional about any necessary changes in your diet and/or medication. When you do have low blood sugar, try to correct it with a pure glucose product to avoid over correcting and consuming too many extra calories.