Glucose tabs and gels are meant to be taken when someone is having a low blood sugar (less than 80 mg/dL). Doctors typically recommend eating 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates, and these tabs and gels are packaged accordingly. For example, most glucose tablets contain 4 grams of carbs each and it’s typically recommended that you eat 4 tablets (16 carbs) while experiencing a low.

Glucose gel comes in single-use tubes with a twist-off top that requires you to squeeze the gel directly into your mouth and swallow. If you use gel, be sure to swallow the tube’s entire content so you can get its full serving.

Be sure to check your blood sugar 10 to 15 minutes after ingesting, to ensure your levels are rising and you are back to a safe range. Please note that if you wear a CGM (continuous glucose monitor), your readings will often lag behind your actual blood sugars, so it is advisable to double-check with a fingerstick blood glucose meter if possible.

These tabs and gels typically relieve low blood sugar symptoms within 10 minutes. Although you can use glucose gel to treat any low, it is especially recommended when you are dropping fast, since it does not require you to chew. Gel might also be great for children with diabetes, who have trouble eating glucose tabs or cannot chew them fast enough when needed.

Note that glucose tabs and gels are not meant for emergency hypoglycemia, when someone may be on the verge of passing out or already there. For emergency treatment, look to  emergency kit or Baqsimi nasal spray.

But tabs and gels are perfect for everyday safety for people with type 1 diabetes (T1D), and it’s great to know that we now have a variety of choices.

Prediabetes is when the body’s blood sugar level is higher than normal. So, they’re higher than normal blood sugar levels in an average person but not high enough to be type 2 diabetes. 

Think of prediabetes as a yellow caution light. It’s telling you to slow down, reassess your diet and lifestyle habits, take action, and make healthy living a priority. Early intervention in prediabetes is key to preventing its progression, reversing it, or lowering your risk of type 2 diabetes.

upplements may help manage prediabetes to some extent, although not all medical experts agree. For example, some studies and randomized controlled trials show that taking supplements like zinc can have a positive effect on reducing blood glucose, which in turn decreases insulin resistance. 

Even though dietary supplements must have a label with the active ingredients, they are not regulated by the FDA the same way the medications are. So, the ingredients and quality of the products can vary drastically. Ensure you talk to your healthcare provider to assess the supplements you’re considering.