Simple Rule to Help Treat Hypoglycemia

When it comes to diabetes management, it’s important to keep blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible. Oftentimes, people talk about preventing blood sugar spikes. However, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) is also very serious. Low blood sugar causes health issues of its own. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) highlights one way to help treat low blood sugar. They recommend the 15-15 rule.
The ADA’s 15-15 rule means that, when blood sugar drops low, eat 15 grams of carbohydrates then check your blood sugar again 15 minutes later. Low blood sugar is defined as being 70mg/dl or lower. If after eating 15 grams, your blood sugar is still low, the ADA recommends eating another 15 grams and checking on your levels 15 minutes later. After your blood sugar is back to normal, eat a regular meal or snack, they say.
The 15 grams recommendation is for adults. Children usually need less than 15 grams to fix low blood sugar. How many grams is a topic of discussion for you and the child’s doctor.
The American Diabetes Association offers this method to help avoid the urge to eat as much as possible until you feel better. This can cause blood sugar to spike too high.
Source: http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/blood-glucose-control/hypoglycemia-low-blood.html