Diabetic patients suddenly start shaking, break out in cold sweats, and have slurred speech — first give 15 grams of sugar, then retest after 15 minutes
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First, give 15 grams of sugar — sugar cubes or a small carton of juice both work fine. Retest blood sugar levels after 15 minutes; if they’re still low, repeat the process. A blood sugar level below 3.0 mmol/L is medically significant hypoglycemia. If a person reaches a stage where they need outside help to manage it, it can be fatal. Never feed anything to someone who is unconscious — they could choke, so call emergency services right away.
- Cost
- No cost involved. Just keep a few sugar cubes or a small carton of juice on hand.
- Benefit
- A blood sugar level below 3.0 mmol/L qualifies as clinically meaningful hypoglycemia. If a person shows changes in consciousness or behavior that require outside assistance to manage, this is severe hypoglycemia that can be deadly.
- Notes
- Never feed anything to an unconscious person — they could choke, so call emergency services immediately. The same guidelines also recommend that people on insulin or at high risk of hypoglycemia should always carry glucagon. The original text reads: “All individuals treated with insulin or who are at high risk of hypoglycemia...should be prescribed glucagon.” Nasal glucagon sprays and pre-filled injection kits are easier to use than glucagon that needs to be mixed on the spot. This advice is aimed at you or any diabetic family members you care for — keeping sugar on hand is meant to help them in emergencies.
Sources · 1
- 美国糖尿病学会 (2025). 糖尿病诊疗标准 2025·第 6 章 血糖目标与低血糖. Diabetes Care：分级「Level 1: Glucose <70 mg/dL (<3.9 mmol/L) and ≥54 mg/dL (≥3.0 mmol/L)」「Level 2: Glucose <54 mg/dL (<3.0 mmol/L)」「Level 3: A severe event characterized by altered mental and/or physical status requiring assistance for treatment of hypoglycemia, irrespective of glucose level」；处理「For most individuals, 15 g carbohydrates should be ingested」「Fifteen minutes after initial treatment, repeat the treatment if hypoglycemia persists」. doi.org/10.2337/dc25-S006