Glucose tablets are one way to manage the occasional bouts of hypoglycemia or low sugar levels that are most experienced by people who take insulin for Type II diabetes. These tablets are easily available in many drug stores and online, and they contain almost 100% glucose, which is the most efficient sugar to use when the body hits a low sugar period. Since glucose isn’t any form of controlled or dangerous substance, any more than table sugar or sucrose, people can buy a wide variety of glucose tablets without a prescription.
Even if glucose tablets are widely available, it doesn’t necessarily mean people with diabetes should simply take any one they want. Complex formulas determine which strength tabs to take. People don’t want to accidentally jump from hypoglycemia to hyperglycemia and suddenly have high levels of blood sugar. To avoid this and to strive for better balance, it’s highly recommended that people follow doctor’s advice on the appropriate strength to take, and why signs glucose should be used. This may sometimes mean splitting a tablet in half or taking more than one.
Many people are surprised to find out that, upon receiving a diagnosis of diabetes Type II, they’ll need to take anything other than insulin. For most people, it’s quite often the case that insulin, whether oral or injected, ends up being paired with glucose tablets. As people learn to manage their condition and get better control over sugar levels, it may be that some folks will not have to take glucose tablets often. Doctors are quick to point out that they shouldn’t avoid taking glucose if needed. Low sugar levels may be just as dangerous as high sugar levels.
There are alternatives to taking glucose tablets that may be recommended. Doctors occasionally prescribe oral glucose to take in lieu of tablets. This is usually on a preference basis, and may have to do with people’s either like or dislike of tablet taste. Tablets do taste sweet, and a number of them are fruit flavored. The sugar taste has been described as empty and not as satisfying as table sugar, though it is sweeter.
A few folks regulate glucose with glucose candies or a variety of snack bars and cookies instead of using glucose tablets. Inappropriate substitutions include candies, bars or the like that contain sucrose or fructose instead, though these might be used in emergency settings. Sucrose and fructose substitutes don’t contain anywhere near the amount of blood sugar that plain glucose does, and the body must work hard to convert these sugars when they are ingested.
