![]() “Using Glucose Tablets,” abstracted from Dr. Bernstein’s book Diabetes Solution © 2007 by Richard K. “Raising Blood Sugars Predictably,” abstracted from Dr. Then you will know if your meter is too high or too low. ![]() When your blood test comes back, see how close it is to what the lab found. Bring your meter with you to the lab and test as close as you can to the time when your blood is drawn. How can you tell? If you really want to go to the trouble of checking, ask your doctor to order a fasting blood test (which he/she may or may not do). Or it could be between 56 mg/dL (3.1 mmol/l) and 84 mg/dL (4.7 mmol/l). Legally, a blood glucose meter can be up to 20% higher-or lower-than your blood sugar level. However, it’s probably better to “work out exactly how much a single glucose tablet will raise your blood sugar and take that exact amount without having to worry if you’ve eaten enough-or too much.” 5 You don’t want to over-correct and spend hours yo-yoing through hypo and hyperglycemia.” 4 One writer says, “Always correct your blood glucose level to 83 mg/dL. Some people feel you should always correct your blood glucose to the “perfect” 83 mg/dL (4.6 mmol/l). Do not eat anything with primarily carbohydrates (sugars and starches). If you still feel hungry after your meter shows that your blood glucose is normal, eat a protein/fat snack, such as 1 ounce cheese, ½ ounce raw almonds, or a hard-cooked egg. “Our health-care providers, educators, and all the literature in the world tells us we should treat a low with glucose tablets… or another source of straight, fast-acting glucose rather than these other indulgent treats.” 3 That’s it! Correcting low blood sugar with glucose tablets is measurable and predictable. You should therefore recheck your blood sugar about 45 minutes after taking the tablets to rule out this possibility and to see if you’re back where you belong.” 2 Note: “If your low blood sugar resulted from taking too much insulin or OHA (oral hypoglycemic agents), it may continue to drop after taking glucose if the insulin or OHA hasn’t finished working.Repeat until your blood glucose has returned to a normal range (70-99 mg/dL or 3.8-5.6 mmol/l).Wash your hands and test your blood glucose again. Take one glucose tablet (or one-half a tablet).If your meter shows you to have true low blood glucose: Bernstein says that 1 gram of pure glucose will raise your blood glucose about 5 mg/dL (0.2 mmol/l), so one tablet would raise your blood glucose by 20 mg/dL (1.1 mmol/l). Typically, one glucose tablet has 4 grams of sugar. Unlike other sweets, it’s absorbed into the blood directly through the mucous membranes of the mouth, stomach, and gut.” 1 Table sugar is sucrose, a combination of glucose and fructose. Bernstein, author of Diabetes Solution, says, “Glucose, the sugar of blood sugar, does not have to be digested or converted by the liver into anything else. These might “work” in an emergency, but none of these is ideal! Why? Dr. You may have heard people say to drink a glass of orange juice or eat a peanut butter sandwich or hard candies. The best treatment for low blood sugar is pure glucose. The only way to know for sure is to check your blood glucose with your meter.*Ī blood glucose number over 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/l) is considered a “false low,” which feels low because you are used to having much higher blood glucose numbers! As you bring your numbers down, eventually numbers in the normal range of 70-99 mg/dL (3.8-5.6 mmol/l) will feel quite normal.Īnything under 67 mg/dL (3.8 mmol/l) is considered a true low blood sugar and you should treat it if you want to stay conscious. But those same symptoms could also indicate high blood sugar. If you have physical symptoms (shakiness, nervousness, dizziness, trembling, sweating, weakness, etc.), that might indicate low blood sugar. You should always carry with you a small supply of glucose tablets, along with your travel meter and test strips. If you are taking any diabetes meds or insulin, there is always the possibility that your blood glucose could go too low.
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