Two Tools, Two Situations
When blood sugar drops, the goal is to bring it back up — fast. But not every low blood sugar situation is the same, and the right response depends on how severe the episode is. That's why people with diabetes often need to understand two different treatments: fast-acting carbohydrates for mild to moderate lows, and glucagon for severe hypoglycemia when someone can't safely eat or drink.
What Are Fast-Acting Carbohydrates?
Fast-acting carbs are simple sugars that your body absorbs quickly — usually within 15 minutes — to raise blood glucose levels. They're the first line of defense for a mild or moderate low (typically defined as blood sugar below 70 mg/dL with symptoms like shakiness, sweating, or confusion).
Good sources of fast-acting carbs include:
- Glucose tablets
- Smarties candy (made of pure dextrose, which absorbs as fast as glucose tablets)
- 4 oz of juice or regular soda
- 1 tablespoon of honey or sugar
The standard recommendation is to consume 15 grams of fast-acting carbs, wait 15 minutes, and recheck your blood sugar. This is known as the 15-15 rule.
For an easy, always-ready source of fast-acting glucose, a SmartyPak™ Glucose Case holds exactly the right dose of Smarties in a compact, pocket-sized case — no guessing, no fumbling.
What Is Glucagon?
Glucagon is a hormone that signals your liver to release stored glucose into the bloodstream. In emergency medical situations — when blood sugar has dropped so low that a person is unconscious, having a seizure, or unable to swallow safely — administering glucagon externally can be lifesaving.
Glucagon is available by prescription in several forms:
- Nasal spray (Baqsimi): No injection required; administered into one nostril
- Auto-injector (Gvoke): A pre-filled, single-use injector similar to an EpiPen
- Powder kit (GlucaGen, generic): Requires mixing before injection
Glucagon kits are prescribed by a doctor and should be kept on hand by people at risk of severe hypoglycemia, as well as their caregivers, family members, or roommates.
Key Differences at a Glance
| Fast-Acting Carbs | Glucagon | |
|---|---|---|
| When to use | Mild to moderate low (conscious, can swallow) | Severe low (unconscious, seizing, or can't swallow) |
| How it works | Directly raises blood glucose through digestion | Triggers the liver to release stored glucose |
| Prescription needed? | No | Yes |
| Who administers it? | The person themselves | A caregiver, family member, or bystander |
| Examples | Smarties, glucose tablets, juice | Baqsimi nasal spray, Gvoke auto-injector |
Why You Need Both
Fast-acting carbs handle the vast majority of low blood sugar episodes. Glucagon is reserved for emergencies — but those emergencies do happen, especially in people with Type 1 diabetes or those who experience hypoglycemia unawareness (when you don't feel the warning signs of a low until it becomes severe).
The ideal preparedness plan includes both: always carry fast-acting glucose like a SmartyPak case for everyday lows, and keep a prescribed glucagon kit accessible at home, work, or school for worst-case scenarios. Make sure the people around you know where both are and how to use them.
Talk to Your Care Team
Every person with diabetes has a different risk profile. Talk to your endocrinologist or diabetes care team about whether a glucagon prescription makes sense for you, and how to build a complete low blood sugar response plan. If you experience frequent lows or have hypoglycemia unawareness, this conversation is especially important.
For the day-to-day piece of the puzzle, stock up on SmartyPak cases to make sure fast-acting glucose is always within reach — at home, in your car, at work, and everywhere in between.