First aid Illness and conditions

Diabetes: low blood sugar — what to do

Hypoglycaemia in diabetes: give 15–20 g of glucose or a sugary drink, repeat if no improvement after 15 minutes. Unconscious — nothing by mouth. Based on ERC 2025.

Prepared by the InCaseMap team · Steps translated from the Lithuanian text checked 5 October 2026 Updated 16 October 2026

In short: If a person with diabetes suddenly becomes weak, sweaty, shaky or acts as if drunk, sit them down. If they are conscious and can swallow, give 15–20 g of glucose tablets, a handful of sweets or 50–100 ml of juice or a sugary drink. No improvement after 15 minutes — give it again; improved — let them have a snack. Unconscious — call 112. All 38 first-aid instructions, based on state-institution and international guidelines (Lithuanian Ministry of Health, NVSC, VVKT, ERC, IFRC), are in the InCaseMap app and work offline — together with a map of hospitals, pharmacies and shelters.

How to recognise it

A person with diabetes suddenly becomes weak, sweaty, shaky, confused, angry or acts as if drunk.

What to do

  1. Sit them down.
  2. Conscious and able to swallow – 15–20 g of glucose tablets; if there are none – a handful of sweets or 50–100 ml of juice or a sugary (not diet) drink.
  3. No improvement after 15 minutes – give it again.
  4. Improved – let them have a snack.
  5. For a conscious child who will not swallow – half a teaspoon of sugar under the tongue.
  6. Call 112 if they lose consciousness or do not improve.

What not to do

  • Do not give anything by mouth to an unconscious person – they would choke.

Frequently asked questions

What can I give if there are no glucose tablets?

A handful of sweets or 50–100 ml of juice or a sugary (not diet) drink.

Should I give food to an unconscious person?

No. Do not give anything by mouth to an unconscious person — they would choke. Call 112.

Sources

Based on: European Resuscitation Council (ERC), Resuscitation Council UK, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). Translated from the Lithuanian text checked 5 October 2026.

Call 112 first and do what the operator says — their instructions come before this page; do not hang up until they tell you to. This page does not replace first-aid training.

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