Glucose Tablets – What Are They & What You Should Know

For many folks with diabetes, glucose tablets are a reliable way to maintain healthy, consistent glucose levels. But how exactly do they work? And when should glucose tablets be used?

Before we get to those questions, let’s first go over what exactly glucose is and what happens when blood sugar drops too low.

What Exactly is Glucose?

Many people believe that glucose is sugar. This is true, but, to be more specific, it is a simple sugar that your body uses for energy. We get glucose from the foods that contain it. Our bodies can actually break down other sugars (known as complex sugars) and carbohydrates from food and turn that into glucose. Absorbing glucose can then lead to higher blood sugar levels.

For people without diabetes, the hormone insulin assists in helping their cells use glucose for energy. When your body has extra glucose, it will store the excess in your liver with insulin. Then, when you need glucose, later on, your liver can release it.

Of course, people with diabetes don’t have enough insulin to allow their bodies to properly go through that process.

Blood Sugar and Hypoglycemia

When blood sugar levels are too low (70 mg/dL or below), many people with diabetes will experience symptoms caused by hypoglycemia. However, some people may not have any symptoms until it reaches much lower (somewhere around 54 mg/dL).

Symptoms for someone with hypoglycemia include:

• Hunger or nausea
• Dizziness, sweating
• Weakness and fatigue
• Headache
• Confusion
• Anxiety and nervousness
• Trembling and shakiness

In some instances, someone may not experience these symptoms or have gotten used to them. Because of this, it’s essential to always be aware of what your levels are at.

What Are Glucose Tablets?

When someone has hypoglycemia, they must act fast to get their blood sugar levels back up to normal levels. Glucose tablets are one way in which they can do just that.

Glucose tablets are chewable sugar that helps someone with diabetes raise their blood sugar levels fast. In some instances, glucose tablets may be recommended by a doctor if the medicine their patient is taking for their diabetes causes glycemia. It’s especially important for people prone to low blood sugar to keep their glucose tablets on them at all times, especially during workouts or exercise.

Depending on your preference, you can find glucose tablets in both a variety of flavors and forms (including liquids, powders, and gels).

Most glucose tablets are also available over the counter, so you do not need a prescription to get them. However, as always, we recommend speaking with your doctor about whether or not glucose tablets are right for you.

Using Glucose Tablets

Glucose tablets should only be used when your blood sugar is low and you need a quick dose of glucose. Obviously, there are foods and candy that are great sources of glucose. However, the glucose in these foods takes a long time to actually become useful for your body. When there isn’t any food around, a person with diabetes may use sugar or juice to get glucose fast.

However, glucose tablets are the most reliable way to ensure your body gets glucose fast. In addition, to be reliable in terms of speed, glucose tablets also have the added benefits of ensuring that you consume the right amount of glucose. Using food or a beverage to attain the right amount of glucose can be tough, and you may not consume enough. Glucose tablets often come in a precise dose, with the standard recommended amount of glucose to rate low blood sugar being around 15 grams. In general, 4 glucose tablets will be enough to restore your glucose to normal levels.

When you take these tablets, you should recheck your blood sugar level in 15 minutes. If you notice that your level is still low, repeat the process of taking glucose tablets in line with the instructions on the bottle and from your doctor. Just a doctor may refer you to a different method of glucose control or a preferred glucose tablet product, they may also suggest that you vary the number of tablets you take.

How Pops Can Help You Control Your Blood Glucose Levels

Keeping tabs on your glucose levels throughout the day is a bit of a tall order. This is especially true when you consider the craziness that is life in 2020. With so much to keep track of, we can often forget to ensure that we’re taking care of ourselves mentally and physically.

With Pops’ Rebel + Mina, you can gain peace of mind knowing that you’re always in control of your diabetes. Rebel combines the traditional test kit into one seamless meter, which connects to your phone. This means you can carry it around with you all day with ease. With Rebel, measuring your blood sugar is convenient no matter where you are.

Mina is Rebel’s trusty sidekick. Not only will she remind you to check your blood sugar every two hours, but she’ll encourage you to be more active too. She’s also eager to learn more about you to ensure that she is offering the best recommendations for how to show diabetes who’s boss (hint: it’s you).

Contact us today to learn more about how Pops can help you maintain healthy blood sugar levels!