Treatment for mild hypoglycaemia

A mild hypoglycaemia is defined as the child being able to tolerate oral fluids/Glucogel

Remember 4 (mmol/l) is the floor. You treat a blood glucose level of 3.9 mmol/l or below as a hypo.

Low blood glucose might happen because:

• A meal or snack is missed or delayed
• You haven’t eaten enough
• Too much exercise with no extra food
• Having more insulin than your body needs
• You feel stress, excitement or worry

When low blood glucose happens, the body may give warning signs (some of which are listed below) to indicate that more sugar is needed in the blood. These signs may be subtle or strong, and sometimes it may be difficult to recognise that someone has a low blood glucose level.

Low Blood Glucose needs to be treated quickly!

Test the blood glucose if you can if it is 3.9 mmols or below then give 10 -15g of fast acting oral glucose to put glucose back into the body quickly.
10g for children under 5 years old, 15g for children over 5 years old.

Examples of 10g fast acting glucose

100ml of ordinary coke, 100ml fresh fruit juice or glucose tablets i.e. Glucotabs/Dextrose tabs but please check packaging as the carbohydrate content varies dependent on the make.

Examples of 15g fast acting glucose

150ml of ordinary coke, 150 ml fresh fruit juice or glucose tablets i.e. Glucotabs/Dextrose tabs but please check packaging as the carbohydrate content varies dependent on the make.

If your child refuses their oral treatment but is able to swallow administer GlucoGel – for more information on how to administer this, please click here.

• After 15 minutes (to allow glucose to enter the blood) re-test blood glucose.
• Once blood glucose level is 4mmol/l or above give 10-15g of slow acting carbohydrate or their normal meal if it is a mealtime to maintain the blood glucose level.
• If the blood glucose level is still 3.9mmol/l or below when you re-test repeat the 10-15g of fast acting carbohydrate and re-test in another 15 minutes. Once the blood glucose level is 4mmol/l or above give slow acting carbohydrate as above.

Examples of 10-15g slow acting carbohydrate

A plain digestive or hobnob biscuit, a slice of toast or a cereal bar (max 15g carbohydrate).

Important – If the mild hypoglycaemia is just before a meal time (when insulin is usually given), it should be treated first and once the blood glucose is 4mmol/l or above the insulin should be given as usual.  Do not omit insulin.