Oxfordshire Children’s Diabetes Service
Children’s Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU
Horton General Hospital, Banbury OX16 9AL
Hypogylcaemia - Low Blood Glucose
Hypoglycaemia or ‘hypos’ can occur because:
 Someone hasn’t eaten enough for the insulin dose they have injected.
 Someone has been exercising a lot with no extra food.
 Someone is getting more insulin than their body needs.
When a low blood glucose happens, the body may give warning signs to indicate that more
glucose (sugar) is needed in the blood. These signs may be either strong or subtle and sometimes
it may be difficult to recognise that someone has a low blood glucose.
A low blood glucose needs to be treated quickly!
Please email any comments you may have about this document to: [email protected]
Paediatric Diabetes Team, May 2016
Review May 2019
1. Check the blood glucose if you can. If it is less than 4 mmols then ………….
2. Give 10g of fast-acting glucose to put glucose back into the blood quickly, i.e. one of the
following:
2-4 glucose tablets
1x 60ml bottle glucojuice
150mls Lucozade Sport
OR 1 tube Glucogel (see picture below)
3. After 10-15 minutes, check that the blood glucose level has come up above 4 mmol/l. If it has
not, then repeat the fast-acting glucose again.
4. Once the BG has risen above 4 mmol/l, then give 10-15 grams of long-acting (starchy)
carbohydrate i.e. 1-2 plain biscuits/crackers OR an oat based cereal bar OR a slice of toast
If an individual is conscious but confused/disorientated or unable to help themselves
sufficiently, another person may need to give them glucose.
If this happens, don’t worry about checking the blood glucose, just treat anyway.
If the person is conscious and able to swallow, you can give them fast-acting glucose (as above)
as usual. However, if they are unable to take this or refusing it, you will need to give them
Glucogel.
This sugary gel can be swallowed or absorbed through the lining of the
mouth. Rub the contents of 1 tube of Glucogel around the inside of the
mouth by placing it inside the cheek and gently massaging the outside of
the cheek.
This can be done by parents, carers or trained adults who have children with diabetes in their care.
It should NOT be used on children who are completely unconscious and
unable to swallow
Once the individual is able to co-operate, give fast-acting glucose (as above).
After 10-15 minutes, check the glucose level (ensuring the Glucogel is washed off the hands). If it
has not come up to 4mmols, repeat the fast-acting glucose. When >4mmols, give long-acting
carbohydrate to maintain the level.
Image acknowledgements: http://www.diabetesed.net/page/_files/HyperHypo-handout.pdf, www.goldspharmacy.co.uk, www.boots.com,
www.lucozadesport.com, www.amazon.co.uk
Please email any comments you may have about this document to: [email protected]
Paediatric Diabetes Team, May 2016
Review May 2019