Safety first
Low Blood Sugar: The Signs, the 15-15 Steps and When to Call 911
For many people with diabetes, low blood sugar means a reading below 70 mg/dL (NIDDK: Low blood glucose). Signs include shakiness, sweating, hunger, dizziness and confusion. Take 15 to 20 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate, check again after 15 minutes, and repeat if you are still low. Call 911 for a severe low. Ask a doctor before adding any supplement to diabetes medicine.
Written by the Myglucozen editorial teamUpdated · 8 min read
The number
What blood sugar level counts as low?
The NIDDK puts the line at 70 mg/dL for many people with diabetes (NIDDK: Low blood glucose). A meter reading under that number is treated as low blood glucose, also called hypoglycemia. Your care team may give you a different number, and theirs comes first.
The number on the meter is your best guide. Feelings help, but they can be vague, and two people can feel the same low in very different ways.
A low can arrive fast. Knowing the signs, and having a plan ready before you need it, turns a scary moment into a routine fix.
Warning signs
What are the signs of low blood sugar?
Common signs are shakiness, sweating, hunger, dizziness and confusion (NIDDK: Low blood glucose). Some people feel several at once. Others notice only one, such as sudden hunger or a sense that something is off.
| Sign | How people often describe it | First move |
|---|---|---|
| Shakiness | Trembling hands or a jittery feeling | Check your meter if you can |
| Sweating | Clammy skin that is not from heat or exercise | Check, then treat if under 70 |
| Hunger | Sudden, strong hunger | Check before you reach for a full meal |
| Dizziness | Lightheaded, unsteady on your feet | Sit down first, then check |
| Confusion | Trouble thinking, slow answers, odd behavior | Treat right away; ask for help |
Write down which signs you tend to get. Share the list with your doctor, so the two of you can plan for them.
The 15-15 steps
How do you treat low blood sugar with the 15-15 steps?
Eat or drink 15 to 20 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate, then check again after 15 minutes (NIDDK: Low blood glucose). That pairing of about 15 grams and 15 minutes is why many people call it the 15-15 rule.
Check
Use your meter. A reading under 70 mg/dL, or the number your doctor set, means treat now.
Take 15 to 20 grams of fast carbs
Choose a fast-acting carbohydrate your care team has named, such as glucose tablets or regular juice.
Wait 15 minutes
Sit and rest. Set a timer so you do not guess.
Check again
Still under 70? Repeat the carbs and the wait. Back in range? Follow the plan your doctor gave you for what to eat next.
Keep a small kit in your bag, car and nightstand. Fast carbs you can grab in seconds beat a long search through the kitchen.
Emergency
When should you call 911 for low blood sugar?
Call 911 for a severe low (NIDDK: Low blood glucose). That includes a person who passes out, has a seizure, or is too confused to eat or drink safely.
Teach family, coworkers and close friends the signs. In a severe low, they are the ones who make the call.
Supplements
Why do ingredients that may lower blood sugar matter with diabetes medicine?
Some herbs may lower blood sugar on their own. If you already take medicine for diabetes, that is a reason to check with your doctor before you add them. Two such herbs are inside the GlucoZen blend.
Gymnema
Human trials at about 300 to 500 mg showed mild drops in fasting glucose, but LiverTox says its effect in diabetes has not been shown (LiverTox: Gymnema). In GlucoZen it is at most 25 mg per 1 mL. See gymnema.
Asian ginseng
NCCIH says it might lower blood sugar levels, yet calls the diabetes evidence inconclusive (NCCIH: Asian ginseng). In GlucoZen it is at most about 17 mg per 1 mL. See Asian ginseng.
The amounts in GlucoZen are small. Small is not the same as zero, and nobody has studied this exact mix alongside diabetes medicine. Ginseng may also interfere with blood clotting and interact with medicines (NCCIH: Asian ginseng).
If you take insulin or any diabetes medicine, talk to your doctor before starting GlucoZen. Never change your dose on your own.
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Order nowThe label
What does the GlucoZen bottle say about medicines?
The bottle already asks for a doctor's input. The caution reads: "Do not exceed recommended dose. Not for use for those under the age of 18 or pregnant or nursing mothers. Consult with a physician prior to use especially if you are taking a medication or have a medical condition." That line applies to anyone on diabetes medicine.
GlucoZen is a dietary supplement with "Blood Sugar Support" wording. It is not insulin and not a diabetes treatment. It does not replace the steps above, and it is no reason to skip a meter check.
Our medicines and GlucoZen page goes through each drug group in turn. The side effects page covers the rest of the blend, including its caffeine sources.
Quick check
Is GlucoZen a sensible fit for you?
Answer five short questions. Any "ask your doctor" result means a conversation should come before the first dose.
Pets
Why keep GlucoZen drops away from dogs?
GlucoZen lists xylitol among its other ingredients. The FDA warns that in dogs, xylitol can cause a sharp drop in blood sugar within 10 to 60 minutes, with serious effects lasting up to 12 to 24 hours (FDA: Xylitol is dangerous for dogs).
Store the bottle up high with the cap on. Wipe up spilled drops. If a dog gets into it, call your vet right away.
For people, the plan stays the same: know your number, carry fast carbs and talk to your doctor. Curious how lows connect to long-term numbers? Read A1C numbers explained.
FAQ
Low blood sugar questions
What blood sugar is too low?
For many people with diabetes, a reading below 70 mg/dL counts as low, according to the NIDDK. Your doctor may set a different number for you, and that number comes first. Treat a low promptly rather than waiting to see if it passes.
What is the 15-15 rule for low blood sugar?
Take 15 to 20 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate, then check your blood sugar again after 15 minutes. If you are still below 70 mg/dL, repeat both steps. Once you are back in range, follow the eating plan your care team gave you.
When is low blood sugar an emergency?
A severe low is an emergency, and the NIDDK says to call 911. Signs include passing out, a seizure, or being too confused to eat or drink safely. People close to you should know these signs, because they may need to make the call.
Can GlucoZen cause low blood sugar?
No study of GlucoZen and lows has been published. Its blend includes gymnema and Asian ginseng, which may lower blood sugar per LiverTox and NCCIH, in small amounts. If you take insulin or diabetes medicine, ask your doctor before starting it.
Does gymnema interact with diabetes medicine?
LiverTox notes that gymnema showed mild drops in fasting glucose in human trials at about 300 to 500 mg. Because it may lower blood sugar, ask your doctor before taking it with diabetes medicine. GlucoZen holds at most 25 mg per 1 mL serving.
Is xylitol in GlucoZen dangerous for dogs?
Yes, xylitol is dangerous for dogs. The FDA says it can cause a sharp blood sugar drop in dogs within 10 to 60 minutes. GlucoZen lists xylitol among its other ingredients, so keep the bottle out of reach of pets and call a vet after any spill.
Should I stop GlucoZen if I have a low?
Treat the low first with the 15-15 steps. Then call your doctor and tell them about every supplement you take, GlucoZen included. Do not restart it, and do not change any diabetes medicine, until you have talked it through together.
Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
A small team that reads the bottle label line by line, checks every number against public health sources (NIH, NCCIH, NIDDK, CDC, ADA, FDA, FTC) and rewrites it in plain English. We do not write for the manufacturer, and we update a page whenever the label, the prices or the evidence changes.
Last updated . See our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by a U.S. stocking partner, not by the manufacturer. We earn a commission when you order through our links.
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Medicines and GlucoZen
A medicine-by-medicine check of GlucoZen's blend, with the questions worth asking your pharmacist.
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Gymnema in GlucoZen: 25 mg at most per serving, set against the 300-500 mg used in human trials.
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Side effects
Ingredient-by-ingredient side effects, warning signs to act on, and who should not take the drops.
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