The fastest way to raise low blood sugar is to eat 15 grams of simple carbohydrates, wait 15 minutes, and recheck. Blood sugar below 70 mg/dL is considered low, and glucose tablets are the single most effective option because your body absorbs pure glucose faster than any food. But plenty of common kitchen items work well too.
The 15-15 Rule
This is the standard approach for treating a blood sugar drop. Eat 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates, then wait 15 minutes and check your blood sugar again. If it’s still below 70 mg/dL, eat another 15 grams and repeat. Keep going until your levels return to your target range.
Once your blood sugar stabilizes, eat a balanced snack or small meal that includes protein and complex carbohydrates. This prevents another drop. Skipping this follow-up step is a common mistake that leads to a second low within an hour or two.
Best Fast-Acting Foods
Each of the following contains roughly 15 grams of carbohydrates and will raise your blood sugar within minutes:
- Glucose tablets: 3 tablets. These work faster than food. A pooled analysis of clinical trials found that glucose tablets relieved hypoglycemia symptoms at the 15-minute mark at a higher rate than dietary sugars like juice, jelly beans, or candy.
- Fruit juice: Half a cup (4 ounces) of orange juice or apple juice. Not diet or reduced-sugar versions.
- Regular soda: Half a cup (4 ounces). Again, not diet.
- Hard candy: 6 or 7 pieces.
- Honey or sugar: 1 tablespoon.
- Syrup or jam: 1 tablespoon.
- Grapes: 15 grapes.
- Raisins or dried fruit: 2 tablespoons.
- Half a banana
- Sports drink: 1 cup (8 ounces).
If you have glucose tablets available, reach for those first. They’re inexpensive, portable, and deliver a more predictable result than food. But any of the options above will do the job.
What Not to Eat During a Low
Fat, protein, and fiber all slow digestion. That’s usually a good thing, but not when your blood sugar is dropping and you need carbohydrates to hit your bloodstream quickly. Chocolate bars, peanut butter, cheese, whole-grain bread, and high-fiber cereals will all delay the glucose rise you need right now. Save those for the follow-up snack after your levels have come back up.
This also means a glass of milk or a handful of nuts isn’t the right first move. They contain fat and protein that blunt the speed of absorption. Stick to simple, low-fat carbohydrates for the initial treatment.
The Follow-Up Snack Matters
After your blood sugar returns above 70 mg/dL, you need to eat something more substantial to keep it there. This is where protein and complex carbs come in. Good combinations include:
- Half a sandwich with meat, cheese, or peanut butter
- A small apple or piece of fruit with an ounce of cheese
- 6 saltine crackers with a quarter cup of tuna salad
- 8 animal crackers with 2 tablespoons of peanut butter
- Baked tortilla chips with refried beans
- A rice cake with peanut butter
The pattern here is about 15 grams of carbohydrate paired with a source of protein or healthy fat. The carbs provide a continued supply of glucose while the protein and fat slow digestion enough to prevent another crash. Without this follow-up, the fast-acting sugar burns through quickly and you can end up right back where you started.
How to Recognize Low Blood Sugar
You may not always have a meter handy, so it helps to know what a low feels like. Common signs include shaking, sweating, sudden intense hunger, a racing heartbeat, dizziness, and feeling anxious or irritable for no clear reason. Some people notice tingling in their lips or tongue, or a sense of confusion that makes it hard to think clearly.
These symptoms can come on fast. If your blood sugar drops further, below 54 mg/dL, the brain starts running short on fuel. At that point, symptoms become more serious: blurred or double vision, slurred speech, poor coordination, and disorientation. This level requires immediate action. If someone with low blood sugar becomes unconscious or can’t swallow safely, they need emergency help, not food. Trying to feed someone who can’t swallow is a choking risk.
Treating Low Blood Sugar in Children
Children need smaller doses. The standard 15-gram recommendation is based on adult bodies. International pediatric guidelines suggest roughly 0.3 grams of carbohydrate per kilogram of body weight. For a 65-pound child, that works out to about 9 grams, roughly half of the adult dose. Giving a full 15 grams to a small child can cause a rebound spike that sends blood sugar too high in the opposite direction. For infants and toddlers, the amount is even less, and should be discussed with their pediatrician.
Keeping Supplies on Hand
If you experience low blood sugar regularly, stocking a few specific items in predictable places makes a real difference. Keep glucose tablets in your bag, your car, your nightstand, and your desk at work. A small juice box travels well too. The worst time to figure out what to eat is when your hands are shaking and your thinking is foggy. Having a go-to supply you don’t need to think about removes a layer of difficulty at exactly the moment your brain is least equipped to problem-solve.