Low Blood Sugar First Aid: Helping in a Diabetic Emergency

Diabetes is common in the UAE, and low blood sugar is the diabetic emergency a first aider is most likely to see. It develops quickly and responds quickly to sugar. It is part of the medical emergencies section of the first aid course.

Signs of low blood sugar

• Shaky, sweaty, pale, hungry.
• Irritable, confused, behaving out of character — sometimes mistaken for drunkenness.
• Headache, blurred vision.
• Drowsiness, seizure or unresponsiveness if untreated.

Giving sugar

Glucose tablets work fastest. Juice, regular soft drinks, sweets or sugar dissolved in water also help. Chocolate works more slowly because of the fat. Once they feel better, a snack with longer-lasting carbohydrate, such as a sandwich, helps prevent another drop.

Not sure if it is high or low?

If a person with diabetes is unwell and you are not sure, giving sugar to someone awake and able to swallow does little harm and can help greatly. Their own glucose meter, if they can use it, settles the question.

Fasting and exercise

Long fasting days, missed meals, extra exercise and heat all increase the risk. During Ramadan, workplaces sometimes see more cases in the afternoon; first aiders should know which colleagues have diabetes if those colleagues are happy to share it.

Unresponsive

Nothing by mouth. Place them on their side if breathing, call 998. If not breathing normally, start CPR. If a seizure occurs, see seizure first aid.

This guide summarises first aid for the public and does not replace training or medical advice. In an emergency in the UAE call 998 for an ambulance.

More First Aid guides: Emergency-by-emergency first aid

• First Aid Course in Abu Dhabi — dates, format and booking
• Severe Bleeding First Aid: Pressure, Tourniquets and Packing
• Burns First Aid: Cool, Cover, and When a Burn Needs Hospital
• Heat Stroke vs Heat Exhaustion: First Aid for UAE Summers
• Anaphylaxis First Aid: Recognising a Severe Allergic Reaction
• Asthma Attack First Aid: Helping With a Reliever Inhaler
• Heart Attack First Aid: Warning Signs and What to Do
• Stroke First Aid: The FAST Test and Why Time Matters
• Seizure First Aid: Keep Them Safe, Time It, and When to Call 998
• Fainting First Aid: What to Do Before and After Someone Faints
• Fractures and Sprains First Aid: Support, Cold and When to Call
• Head Injury and Concussion First Aid: Danger Signs to Watch For
• Poisoning First Aid: Swallowed, Inhaled and Skin Exposures
• Bites and Stings First Aid: Scorpions, Snakes, Bees and Jellyfish
• Drowning First Aid: Safe Rescue, Breathing and Pool Safety
• Eye Injury First Aid: Chemicals, Dust and Objects in the Eye
• Electric Shock First Aid: Make It Safe Before You Touch
• First Aid Kit Checklist for Home, Car and Workplace
• All First Aid guides, by topic

Other life support and first aid courses: BLS Course · ACLS Course · PALS Course · Training calendar

Frequently asked questions

What do you give someone with low blood sugar?

Glucose tablets, fruit juice or a regular sugary drink, if they can swallow safely.

How long before they improve?

Usually within about 15 minutes; if not, give more and call 998.

What if they cannot swallow?

Give nothing by mouth and call 998.

Can low blood sugar look like drunkenness?

Yes, confusion and odd behaviour are common.

Is diet soda useful?

No, it contains no sugar.

Sources and further reading

What we teach follows the awarding body and the UAE health authorities. For the definitive position on a course or licensing question, these are the places to check.

• Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED — American Heart Association
• Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre — Abu Dhabi

Last reviewed 21 September 2026 by the training team at Safety First Medical Services, an American Heart Association training centre at Addax Office Tower, Al Reem Island, Abu Dhabi. Call +971 55 761 9841 or email training@safetyfirstmed.ae.