Low blood sugar emergency

Treating low blood sugar in children

• Be alert for low blood sugar.
  • Check your child's blood sugar level if you think it may be low, even if you don't see any symptoms.
  • Notice if your child has symptoms of low blood sugar. Symptoms include sweating, shakiness, hunger, blurred vision, dizziness, and confusion. Be aware that your child may not always have the same symptoms.
• Offer quick-sugar food when your child has low blood sugar.
  • Give your child carbohydrate from quick-sugar food, such as glucose tablets, fruit juice, or hard candy. Liquids will raise blood sugar faster than solid foods. While many adults use 15 grams of carbohydrate, children usually need less. For example, a child under 5 years old might only need 5 grams, and a child 5 to 10 years old might only need 10 grams. Every child is different. Check with your doctor or diabetes educator for the amount that is right for your child's current age and weight.
  • Wait about 15 minutes after your child eats the carbohydrate. Check your child's blood sugar level again.
  • If blood sugar is still below 70 mg/dL, give your child the same recommended amount of carbohydrate from quick-sugar food.
  • Repeat the same recommended amount of carbohydrate every 15 minutes until your child's blood sugar is in a safe target range, such as 70 mg/dL or higher.
  • When your child's blood sugar returns to the target range, give your child a small snack if the next planned meal or snack is more than a few hours away.
• Know when to get help.

  Get emergency help if your child's blood sugar stays below 70 mg/dL or your child is getting more sleepy and less alert. Stay with your child until blood sugar is above 70 mg/dL or until emergency help arrives.