Glucose Tablets
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Glucose Tablets
Control your blood sugar with glucose tablets from CVS Pharmacy. These products contain fast-acting carbohydrates to quickly raise blood sugar, offering a convenient way to manage hypoglycemia and diabetes.
What Are Glucose Tablets Used for?
Glucose serves as your body's primary energy source and is the carbohydrate that comprises your blood sugar. As it absorbs more quickly than other carbohydrate sources after ingestion and rapidly raises your blood sugar levels, it's often one of the most effective diabetes treatments for hypoglycemia and other conditions that can cause your blood sugar to drop.
If taken during or immediately before a crash, glucose tablets help reverse hypoglycemia. They also ease the weakness, lightheadedness and other symptoms you may be experiencing. Check your blood sugar throughout the day with a diabetes monitor to catch the start of a crash sooner.
Do Glucose Tablets Expire?
Like other sugars, glucose has a long shelf life and doesn't readily expire, but many glucose tablets contain additional ingredients, such as flavorings and bindings. These ingredients may deteriorate over time, causing the product to harden or lose flavor, and the expiration date typically reflects this happening rather than the breakdown of the glucose.
However, hypoglycemia can be harmful if not treated promptly and effectively, so it's always better to check the expiration date of your glucose tablets to ensure they'll work properly when needed. Consider also keeping some jelly beans or chewy candy in the house for emergencies.
How Many Glucose Tablets Can You Take in a Day?
As glucose is a type of sugar rather than a drug, it's impossible to overdose on it in the traditional sense. Excessive consumption may cause blood sugar to swing too far in the other direction, though, so it's important to check your blood sugar frequently and only use glucose tablets when needed.
In general, take one glucose tablet when your blood sugar drops or symptoms of hypoglycemia begin. Recheck your blood sugar level 15 minutes afterward, and take another if your blood sugar level is still low. Always follow specific instructions for the product you're using or from your doctor, and consider drinking soda or juice if your supply of glucose chewable tablets runs low.
Are Glucose Tablets Good for Hypoglycemia?
Most fast-acting carbohydrate-based foods, such as honey or fruit, are suitable for reversing hypoglycemia. The benefit of glucose tablets for diabetics over other options is that they're easier to carry around, and you can take them quickly when needed. They also usually contain a dose of glucose that's less likely to overwhelm your body while still treating symptoms adequately.