what to feed diabetics when sugar is low

Eat or drink a quickly digested carbohydrate food, such as:

• ½ cup fruit juice
• ½ cup of a regular soft drink (not a diet soda)
• 1 cup of milk
• 5 or 6 hard candies
• 4 or 5 saltine crackers
• 2 tablespoons of raisins
• 3 to 4 teaspoons of sugar or honey
• 3 or 4 glucose tablets or a serving of glucose gel

Full Answer

What foods are bad for diabetics?

What Carbs Should a Person with Diabetes Avoid?

• Foods with added sugar or refined sugar
• Foods with high fructose corn syrup
• Fruit juice with added sugar
• White bread
• White rice
• And, in general, almost all processed foods. We recommend a low-fat diet because dietary excess dietary fat is the primary cause of insulin resistance, the underlying condition that causes diabetes.

What is the best weight loss program for diabetics?

• 2.1 Green Leafy Vegetable
• 2.2 Whole Grains
• 2.3 Fatty Fish
• 2.4 Beans
• 2.5 Walnuts
• 2.6 Citrus Fruits
• 2.7 Berries
• 2.8 Sweet Potatoes
• 2.9 Probiotic Yogurt
• 2.10 Chia Seeds

More items...

What is the best low carb diet for diabetics?

Low carb meal plan for diabetes – Endive salad. Breakfast- 1 serving of cooked eggs with mushrooms and kale. Snack- 1 serving of non-fat Greek yogurt with kale crisps. Lunch- 1 serving of roasted garlic chicken with mixed herb sauce. Snack- 1 serving of endive salad with roasted walnuts. Dinner- 1 serving of mixed green salad with toasted nuts.

What is the best diet plan for a diabetic?

Your dietitian can give you lots more suggestions and help you find recipes for tasty meals:

• Fruits: berries, grapes, cherries, apples, plums
• Veggies: cauliflower, onions, eggplant, turnips
• Proteins: lean meats (poultry, fish), eggs, unsalted seafood
• Carbs: white bread, bagels, sandwich buns, unsalted crackers, pasta
• Drinks: water, clear diet sodas, unsweetened tea

What is the best thing to give a diabetic with low blood sugar?

Feed the person a fast-acting source of sugar (regular soft drink or fruit juice). Then, have them eat a long-acting source of sugar (crackers and cheese or a sandwich with meat).

What foods should I avoid if I have low blood sugar?

Foods that are not suitable for people with hypoglycemia to eat because they can cause your blood sugar levels to fluctuate significantly include:White bread, white rice, and pasta.Trans fats.Sugar-sweetened drinks.Fruit-flavored yogurt.Sweetened breakfast cereals.Honey, agave nectar, and maple syrup.Dried fruit.More items...•

How can I raise my blood sugar quickly?

Among the foods you can try for a quick blood sugar boost are:a piece of fruit, like a banana, apple, or orange.2 tablespoons of raisins.15 grapes.1/2 cup apple, orange, pineapple, or grapefruit juice.1/2 cup regular soda (not sugar-free)1 cup fat-free milk.1 tablespoon honey or jelly.15 Skittles.More items...•

What can I eat for breakfast if I have low blood sugar?

Some ideal breakfast choices include: hard-boiled eggs and whole-grain toast. oatmeal with berries, sunflower seeds, agave, and cinnamon. Greek yogurt with berries, honey, and oatmeal.

What causes blood sugar to drop suddenly?

Possible causes, with diabetes But too much insulin or other diabetes medications may cause your blood sugar level to drop too much, causing hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia can also occur if you eat less than usual after taking your regular dose of diabetes medication, or if you exercise more than you typically do.

What helps hypoglycemia immediately?

Immediate hypoglycemia treatmentEat or drink 15 to 20 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates. These are sugary foods or drinks without protein or fat that are easily converted to sugar in the body. ... Recheck blood sugar levels 15 minutes after treatment. ... Have a snack or meal.

How do you keep sugar from dropping?

Preventing HypoglycemiaFollow your meal plan.Eat at least three evenly spaced meals each day with between-meal snacks as prescribed.Plan your meals no more than 4 to 5 hours apart.Exercise 30 minutes to 1 hour after meals. ... Double-check your insulin and dose of diabetes medicine before taking it.More items...•

Is peanut butter good to raise blood sugar?

Individuals with diabetes need foods that can help manage blood sugar and weight. Peanuts and peanut butter can be a powerful ally to reaching success. Peanuts and peanut butter have a low glycemic index, which means they don't cause blood sugar to rise sharply.

What foods raise your blood sugar?

In general, foods that cause blood sugar level to rise the most are those that are high in carbohydrates, which are quickly converted into energy, such as rice, bread, fruits and sugar. Next are foods high in protein, such as meats, fish eggs, milk and dairy products, and oily foods.

What foods cause hypoglycemia?

Therefore, meals that are high in simple carbohydrates can contribute to reactive hypoglycemia. Concentrated sweets such as candy, table sugar, soft drinks, cookies, cakes, and ice cream are mainly simple carbohydrates. Avoid these foods unless they are made with sugar substitutes.

Are bananas good for low blood sugar?

(That's what “hypoglycemia” means.) Glucose is the body's main source of energy. In most people, blood sugar levels should be within a range of 70 to 99 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). Most healthy people only need a quick high-carb snack, such as an apple or banana, to help get their blood sugar back up to normal.

How to avoid low blood sugar?

If you have diabetes, you need to match your carbohydrate intake to your diabetes medications to avoid low blood sugar. A dietitian or diabetes educator can help you put together an eating plan. If you take mealtime insulin like insulin aspart (NovoLog), insulin lispro (Humalog), or insulin glulisine (Apidra), make sure you eat the right amount of carbohydrates at your meal to match your insulin dosage. Skipping meals or not eating enough carbohydrates can cause your blood sugar level to dip significantly.

How to treat hypoglycemia in diabetics?

In people with diabetes, hypoglycemia can come on suddenly and needs to be treated right away so it doesn’t get worse. Eat or drink a quickly digested carbohydrate food, such as: ½ cup fruit juice. ½ cup of a regular soft drink (not a diet soda) 1 cup of milk. 5 or 6 hard candies. 4 or 5 saltine crackers.

How to treat hypoglycemia?

In people with diabetes, hypoglycemia can come on suddenly and needs to be treated right away so it doesn’t get worse. Eat or drink a quickly digested carbohydrate food, such as: 1 ½ cup fruit juice 2 ½ cup of a regular soft drink (not a diet soda) 3 1 cup of milk 4 5 or 6 hard candies 5 4 or 5 saltine crackers 6 2 tablespoons of raisins 7 3 to 4 teaspoons of sugar or honey 8 3 or 4 glucose tablets or a serving of glucose gel

How long to wait to check blood sugar with a glucose meter?

3 or 4 glucose tablets or a serving of glucose gel. Each of these choices provides about 15 grams of carbohydrate. Wait for 15 or 20 minutes, then check your blood sugar with a blood glucose meter. If your blood sugar is still low, have another portion of carbohydrates.

What are the symptoms of low blood sugar?

When blood sugar drops, you may get these symptoms: Hunger. Shakiness. Sweating. Dizziness. Lightheadedness. Confusion.

How to keep blood sugar on a keel?

Eating regular meals and snacks is the best way to keep blood sugar on an even keel. Here are some guidelines for those who have had recurring bouts of hypoglycemia:

Where does sugar come from?

Most of the sugar or glucose in your blood comes from carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are the sugars and starches in grains, beans, vegetables, fruit, milk and milk products, honey, and sugar. If you don’t have diabetes and you’re feeling the unpleasant effects of a drop in blood sugar, eat or drink something with carbohydrates.

What to do if you think you have low blood sugar?

If you think you have low blood sugar, check it. If you aren’t able to check it, go ahead and treat it. Untreated low blood sugar can be dangerous, so it’s important to know what to do about it and to treat it immediately.

How to treat high blood sugar after eating?

1 tablespoon of sugar, honey, or syrup. Hard candies, jellybeans, or gumdrops (see food label for how much to eat). 3-4 glucose tablets (follow instructions). 1 dose of glucose gel (usually 1 tube; follow instructions). Tips to keep in mind: It takes time for blood sugar to rise after eating. Give some time for treatment to work.

How long does it take to raise blood sugar?

For low blood sugar between 55-69 mg/dL, raise it by following the 15-15 rule: have 15 grams of carbs and check your blood sugar after 15 minutes. If it’s still below your target range, have another serving. Repeat these steps until it’s in your target range.

How much carbs should a child eat to raise blood sugar?

Give some time for treatment to work. Following the 15-15 rule helps. Young children usually need less than 15 grams of carbs, especially infants and toddlers. Ask your doctor how much your child needs.

How long does it take for low blood sugar to go away?

After you have low blood sugar, your early symptoms for low blood sugar are less noticeable for 48 to 72 hours.

What to do if you have a low on glucagon?

If you used glucagon because of a severe low (54 mg/dL or below), immediately call your doctor for emergency medical treatment. If you have had lows several times close together (even if they’re not severe), you should also tell you doctor. They may want to change your diabetes plan.

When to check blood sugar?

Check your blood sugar often when lows are more likely, such as when the weather is hot or when you travel.

What to do when blood sugar is low?

Once you’ve confirmed your blood sugar is low — or lower than normal — how should you treat it? Essentially, you want fast-acting carbohydrates, which are simple sugars with little to no fiber.

What is considered low blood sugar?

To answer that question, we first need to know what’s considered low blood sugar or hypoglycemia. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) defines hypoglycemia as anytime your blood sugar is lower than the healthy range.

Does eating fresh fruit raise blood sugar?

All the foods listed above are fresh or dried fruit with higher amounts of naturally occurring sugars than other fruits. While some fiber is present in these, the amount is minimal and will raise blood sugar quickly and effectively.

Does peanut butter raise blood sugar?

Peanut butter (or any nut butter) without added sugar is filled with protein and fat and can help alleviate these symptoms without raising your blood sugar.

Can you test blood sugar if you have hypoglycemia?

Once you start to feel these symptoms, it’s crucial to immediately test your blood sugar to confirm if you are, in fact, experiencing hypoglycemia.

Is nutrition the main goal of low blood sugar?

Don’t get me wrong; nutrition isn’t our main goal when treating low blood sugar — raising your blood sugar quickly is the primary goal.

Is low blood sugar the opposite of what you want?

In the case of low blood sugar, that’s the opposite of what you want.

Which is better for blood sugar: bread or white bread?

Bread. One slice of bread usually contains enough carbohydrates to provide the 15 grams needed to raise blood sugar. Whole-grain breads contain more fiber and protein, so it would be better for low blood sugar treatment to choose lower-fiber options such as white bread.

What is the goal of diabetes?

When you have diabetes, one of the main goals is to keep blood sugar levels from going too high and too low. It can seem like a balancing act sometimes since many factors can influence blood sugar levels. Despite the best diabetes management plan and healthy habits, there may still be a time when someone with diabetes experiences low blood sugar.

What happens if you don't eat enough carbs?

If someone isn’t eating very many carbohydrates, especially if they’re also taking insulin or other diabetes medications, hypoglycemia can occur.

Why is hypoglycemia unawareness important?

Hypoglycemia unawareness increases the risk of severe hypoglycemia, so treating and preventing hypoglycemia is very important for the health and safety of people with diabetes.

Why is fast acting insulin taken at meals?

The risk of low blood sugar is highest with short- and rapid-acting insulins. Fast-acting insulin is usually taken around meals because eating raises blood sugar, so it works quickly to counteract the rise in blood sugar. Taking short- and rapid-acting insulins without eating may result in a hypo.

Can low blood sugar be life threatening?

Low blood sugar can become life-threatening if it becomes severe, so it’s essential that people with diabetes and those caring for them know which foods to eat when low blood sugar occurs. Suppose someone has repeated incidents of low blood sugar.

Can insulin be taken before lunch?

For example, taking a morning dose of intermediate-acting insulin as well as a dose of rapid-acting insulin before lunch can cause a “stacking up” of insulin levels in the body and increase the risk of a hypo .

What is the best food for diabetics?

Here are the 16 best foods for people living with diabetes, both type 1 and type 2. 1. Fatty Fish. Some people consider fatty fish to be one of the healthiest foods on the planet. Salmon, sardines, herring, anchovies and mackerel are great sources of the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA, which have major benefits for heart health.

Why is it important to monitor blood sugar levels with diabetes?

This is important because people with diabetes tend to have trouble managing blood sugar levels and have high triglyceride levels.

What are some good sources of vitamins and minerals?

Spinach, kale and other leafy greens are good sources of many vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C.

Does eating healthy help with diabetes?

The bottom line. When diabetes is not well managed, it increases your risk for several serious diseases. But eating foods that help keep blood sugar, insulin, and inflammation manageable can dramatically reduce your risk for complications.

Does vitamin C help with diabetes?

Vitamin C acts as a potent antioxidant and also has anti-inflammatory qualities. Increasing dietary intake of vitamin C-rich foods can help people with diabetes increase their serum vitamin C levels while reducing inflammation and cellular damage ( 11. Trusted Source. ).

Does eating fish lower blood sugar?

Research indicates that people who eat fatty fish regularly have a lower risk for acute coronary syndromes, like heart attacks, and are less likely to die from heart disease ( 7, 8. Trusted Source. ). Studies show that eating fatty fish may also help regulate your blood sugar.

Do avocados have sugar?

Avocados have less than 1 gram of sugar and are associated with improved overall diet quality. Avocados may also have properties specific to diabetes prevention. 4. Eggs. Eggs provide amazing health benefits. In fact, they’re one of the best foods for keeping you full and satisfied in between meals ( 18.

What increases my risk for low blood sugar?

Prevent low blood sugar by knowing what increases your risk. Any of the following can increase your risk:

How to raise blood sugar quickly?

Your blood sugar level is too low if it is at or below 70 mg/dL. Eat or drink 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate. Fast-acting carbohydrates will raise your blood sugar level quickly.

Why is it important to recognize a low blood sugar level?

Hypoglycemia can cause you to have falls, accidents, and injuries. A blood sugar level that gets too low can lead to seizures, coma, and death . Learn to recognize the symptoms early so you can get treatment quickly.

How to get blood sugar to 100?

4 ounces (½ cup) of fruit juice. 4 ounces of regular soda. 2 tablespoons of raisins. 1 tube of glucose gel or 3 to 4 glucose tablets. Check your blood sugar level 15 minutes later. If the level is still less than 100 mg/dL, eat another 15 grams of carbohydrate. When the level returns to 100 mg/dL, eat a snack or meal that contains carbohydrates. ...

What does it feel like to have low blood sugar?

When your blood sugar level is low, you may feel any of the following: Sweaty. Nervous or shaky. Anxious or irritable. Confused. A fast, pounding heartbeat. Extremely hungry.

Does blood sugar improve with treatment?

Your blood sugar level is lower than normal and it does not improve with treatment. You often have lower blood sugar levels than your target goals. You have trouble coping with your illness, or you feel anxious or depressed. You have questions or concerns about your condition or care.

Can diabetes cause low blood sugar?

Low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia) can happen with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Low levels are more likely to happen if you use insulin. Hypoglycemia can cause you to have falls, accidents, and injuries. A blood sugar level that gets too low can lead to seizures, coma, and death.

What to eat when blood sugar is back to normal?

Smart options include a handful of peanuts, some peanut butter, or cheese.

What to do if you have trouble normalizing your blood sugar?

When to call your doctor. If you’re having trouble normalizing your blood sugar, call your doctor and ask to be seen immediately. Untreated hypoglycemia could cause you to seize or become unconscious, the NIDDK says.

How long to wait to retest blood sugar?

If you’re blood sugar is still low, eat another 15 grams of carbohydrates, wait another 15 minutes, and retest, the NLM recommends. “You need to repeat these steps until your blood sugar is corrected,” Galindo says. When your blood sugar is back to normal.

How to make a glucose gel?

5 or 6 hard candies, jelly beans, or gumdrops. 1 tablespoon of cake frosting. 2 tablespoons of raisins. ½ cup of applesauce. You can also take three to four glucose tablets or a tube of glucose gel.

How much sugar is considered low?

Anything less than 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl) is considered low blood sugar, according to the National Library of Medicine (NLM). However, target levels are often individualized, so talk with your healthcare provider about your optimal numbers, Tan adds. Eat or drink fast-acting carbs.

How do you know if you have low blood sugar?

While symptoms vary from person to person, if you develop mild to moderate low blood sugar you may: Feel shaky or jittery. Sweat a lot. Be very hungry. Have a headache or be lightheaded. Turn pale. Have trouble concentrating. Have heart palpitations. Be irritable or combative.

Can insulin cause low blood sugar?

If you take insulin or diabetes medication, you may be at risk of developing hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar. Without quick attention, hypoglycemia can lead to serious complications, so it’s important to know what to do if it happens to you or someone close to you. “In very severe cases, hypoglycemia can lead to seizures or loss ...