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Liquid Glucose Substitutes

Shakiness, sweating and weakness are common symptoms for a person with diabetes experiencing low blood sugars. Hypoglycemia, or blood glucose below 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl), can result from taking too much insulin or oral medications, eating too little food or waiting too long to eat. Treat hypoglycemia immediately by eating 15 grams of a fast-acting carbohydrate such as liquid glucose. Glucose tablets, fruit and candy are other possible options.

  1. Tablets

    • Glucose tablets are an alternative to liquid glucose. Tablets are easy to carry with you when away from home. The dosage is clearly written on the product's container so you will know the correct amount to take. Hypoglycemia can impair judgment, so tablets make it easy to take the proper dosage. A typical serving of tablets is three or four, but always check the product's label for specifics. Also, since tablets seem more like medication, they are not a tempting snack, which could add excess calories and lead to weight gain.

    Fruit and Fruit Juice

    • Another common substitute for liquid glucose is a glass of fruit juice or a piece of fruit. Fructose, the form of sugar found in fruit, will raise blood sugar at a slower rate than glucose. To get 15 grams of carbohydrates, the amount that will raise blood glucose, 4 oz. or 1/2 cup of juice and about 1/2 cup of fruit is necessary. It can be difficult to know the exact amount of fruit to consume, since different types have varying amounts of carbohydrates. Juice can vary also, because some juices have added sugars as well as natural sugar from the fruit.

    Candy

    • Hard candy or a candy bar can also raise blood glucose levels. Most candy contains sucrose, which is half glucose and half fructose. Candy will not raise blood glucose levels as quickly as pure glucose because of this sugar mix. If you choose a candy bar, you will get many additional calories because of the fat content. Fat also slows digestion, which will further slow its effect on blood sugar. Hard candy is usually fat-free, but a serving may be four or five pieces, which can take a long time to consume.

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