When your blood sugar drops below 70 mg/dL, the fastest way to bring it back up is drinking 4 ounces (half a cup) of fruit juice or regular soda. These liquids deliver about 15 grams of fast-acting sugar that your body can absorb within minutes. The goal is simple: get sugar into your bloodstream quickly, then follow up to keep it stable.
The 15-15 Rule
The standard approach to treating low blood sugar is called the 15-15 rule: consume 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates, wait 15 minutes, then recheck your blood sugar. If it’s still below 70 mg/dL, repeat with another 15 grams. This method prevents both under-treating (staying too low) and over-treating (spiking too high).
Liquids tend to work faster than solid foods because your stomach doesn’t need to break them down as much before the sugar hits your bloodstream. That speed matters when you’re shaky, sweating, or feeling lightheaded.
Best Drinks for a Low Blood Sugar Episode
Each of these delivers roughly 15 grams of carbohydrates:
- Orange juice: 4 ounces (half a standard cup). This is the most commonly recommended option because it’s widely available and absorbed quickly.
- Apple juice: 4 ounces. Works just as well as orange juice.
- Regular soda: 4 ounces of any non-diet variety. Cola, ginger ale, or lemon-lime all work.
- A tablespoon of honey or sugar dissolved in water: A good backup when you don’t have juice or soda on hand.
You don’t need a lot. Four ounces is a small juice glass, not a full cup. Drinking too much juice in a panic is a common mistake that sends blood sugar rebounding too high.
What Not to Drink
Diet soda will not raise your blood sugar at all. Artificial sweeteners provide sweetness without calories or carbohydrates, so they have zero effect on blood glucose. If you grab a can in a hurry, check the label first.
Whole milk and chocolate milk are also poor choices in the moment. The fat and protein in dairy slow down digestion, which delays how quickly sugar reaches your bloodstream. That delay can mean spending more time with dangerously low glucose when your body needs a fast correction. Save milk for after your blood sugar has recovered.
Smoothies, protein shakes, and drinks with added fiber fall into the same category. Anything that combines sugar with fat, protein, or fiber will blunt and delay the glucose response. You want pure, simple sugar when you’re treating an active low.
After Your Blood Sugar Recovers
Once your blood sugar is back above 70 mg/dL, the job isn’t done. Fast-acting sugar gets used up quickly, and without a follow-up, your levels can drop again within 30 to 60 minutes. Eat a small snack that pairs a complex carbohydrate with a protein source. A handful of crackers with peanut butter, a slice of toast with cheese, or a small handful of nuts with a piece of fruit all work well. The protein and complex carbs digest more slowly, keeping your blood sugar stable until your next full meal.
Adjusting for Children
The 15-gram dose is sized for adults and larger adolescents. For children, the recommended amount is about 0.3 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate per kilogram of body weight. A 30-kilogram child (roughly 65 pounds) needs about 9 grams, which is a little over 2 ounces of juice. A child over 50 kilograms can use the standard 15-gram adult dose.
Research on children with diabetes found that this weight-based approach raised blood sugar effectively within 10 to 15 minutes without causing a rebound spike later. One thing to note: juice requires roughly double the carbohydrate amount compared to glucose tablets to achieve the same blood sugar rise. So if you’re using juice for a child, the 0.3 grams-per-kilogram guideline already accounts for that difference.
When Drinks Aren’t Enough
Blood sugar below 54 mg/dL is considered a more serious low that needs immediate action. At this level, the brain starts running short on fuel, which can cause confusion, slurred speech, clumsiness, and difficulty completing simple tasks.
If someone with low blood sugar loses consciousness, has a seizure, or can’t swallow safely, do not try to give them a drink. Pouring liquid into the mouth of someone who can’t swallow creates a choking risk. This situation requires glucagon, a hormone that signals the liver to release stored sugar. Glucagon is available as an injection or nasal spray, and people on insulin are often prescribed an emergency kit to keep nearby. If glucagon isn’t available or the person doesn’t regain consciousness, call emergency services immediately.
Keeping Quick Options on Hand
The best treatment is the one you actually have with you when a low hits. Small juice boxes (the 4-ounce size) are easy to stash in a bag, a desk drawer, a car glove compartment, or a nightstand. Glucose tablets and glucose gel tubes are compact alternatives that don’t need refrigeration and won’t spill. If you experience lows regularly, keeping supplies in multiple locations means you’re never caught searching for something to drink while your hands are already shaking.