This simple method makes it easy to remember what to do when your blood sugar drops too low
When checking your blood sugar, one or two “off” readings isn’t something to fret about. But that doesn’t mean you should ignore a low reading either. In fact, if your blood sugar drops below the range you’ve discussed with your doctor, or if it is lower than 70 mg/dL, you should act fast to bring it back up using the 15/15 rule.
What is the 15/15 rule?
This simple, easy-to-remember method for bringing blood sugar back up has two key points:
15 grams of carbohydrates: You should consume 15 to 20 grams of carbohydrates as soon as possible after taking a low reading.
15 minutes: This is how long you should wait between eating a snack and checking your blood sugar again to see if it brought the number back up.
What counts as 15 grams of carbohydrates?
A 15-gram serving of carbohydrates really isn’t a lot, which makes it easy to keep a snack handy at all times. Stashing quick carbs is especially important if you have type 1 diabetes and take insulin, or if you have type 2 diabetes and take insulin or other medicines that help your body make and use insulin. The servings of food, candies, or tablets below have about 15 to 20 grams of carbohydrates each, but check the food labels carefully to be sure.
- 3 to 4 glucose tablets
- 1 tube of glucose gel
- 5 or 6 hard candies (with sugar, not the sugar-free kind)
- 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey
- 4 ounces of fruit juice or 1 juice box (regular, not low-sugar)
Do I really have to wait 15 minutes?
Yes! It’s important to give your body time to process the carbs. Don’t eat or drink more carbs in this 15-minute window, or you run the risk of boosting your blood sugar too high. To pass the time, consider picking up a book or chipping away at a crossword puzzle. Set a timer if you’re afraid you’ll lose track of time.
What should I do if my blood sugar is still too low?
If your blood sugar is still low after the 15-minute waiting period, eat another 15 grams of carbohydrates, then test your blood sugar again 15 minutes later.
If your blood sugar is still low after the second reading, call your doctor right away. You should also contact your physician if your reading is too low after two more tries, or if the drop occurs out of the blue (not, say, because you skipped a meal or took too much insulin).
If my blood sugar rises to a safe level, what should I do now to ensure it won’t drop again?
If your next meal is more than an hour away, eat a snack, such as handful of crackers with a single tablespoon of peanut butter. If your next meal will be within an hour, eat as you normally would.
