Your Go-To Guide for Glucose Gummies

Living with diabetes, you know that low blood sugar can be dangerous and needs quick action. Traditional treatments for a low include juice, candy, honey and glucose tablets. However, not all of these options are equally convenient or easy to carry. Glucose gummies offer a quick and portable way to restore blood sugar levels.

Understanding sugar types

Sugar types include glucose (dextrose), fructose and sucrose. Each has the same calories per gram, but impacts the body differently due to their structures.

Dextrose/Glucose 

• Glucose is the body’s preferred energy source and the fastest way to treat low blood sugar. 
• It is found in glucose tablets, powders and gels, and it is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream.

Fructose

• Found in fruits, vegetables, honey and agave, fructose is also a natural sugar. 
• When eaten with fiber—as in whole fruit—its absorption slows down.
• Fructose must be processed by the liver, which may delay its effect during severe lows.

Sucrose

• Sucrose is a combination of glucose and fructose. 
• It works well for treating moderately low blood sugar. 
• Because it’s only half glucose, it takes longer to raise blood sugar levels.

Glucose gummies: A modern solution for treating low blood sugar

• Since the 1920s, people with diabetes have used sugar, candy and juice to treat lows.
• Glucose tablets became available in the 1970s, though many people disliked their taste and texture. 
• Gummies became popular in the 2000s as a tastier, more portable solution.
• Today, many brands offer them in various flavors and formulations.

Why use glucose gummies?

• They are a newer, more convenient option. 
• Unlike juice or sticky honey, they are easy to carry and use on the go. 
• Despite the name, these gummies can contain different types of sugar.

Glucose gummy brands and options 

Glucose gummies: IRL (in real life)

• Nadine Shapiro, a type 1 rock climber in Boulder, Colorado, relies on Lifeable glucose gummies.
  • “The mixed berry flavor is the best, and it’s important that they’re gluten- and dairy-free for me. It’s a delicious way to treat a low when I’m out in the backcountry!”
• Dr. Michael Natter, a New York City endocrinologist with type 1 diabetes, never recommends one brand over another. 
  • “But, I always tell patients to carry some form of simple carbohydrate.”
• Mila Clarke, NBC-HWC, of Houston, calls gummies a fast, convenient way to treat mild hypoglycemia.
  • “They’re fast-acting, pre-portioned, and easy to carry,” she says. “One of the biggest benefits is predictability—each gummy typically contains four grams of carbohydrate, making it easier to treat lows without causing a rebound high.”

Frequently asked questions

Do glucose gummies work faster than tablets?

No. Gummies and tablets work at similar speeds—typically within 15 minutes—if they contain glucose.

How often should people with diabetes use glucose gummies?

There’s no strict limit, but frequent lows may signal a need to adjust your treatment plan. Talk with your doctor.

Find what works for you

Low blood sugar needs quick treatment, and understanding your options is key. 

From sugar cubes to glucose gummies, people with diabetes have more convenient ways to manage lows. 

Gummies are portable and reliable, but the best choice depends on your lifestyle. 

Talk to your doctor and try different options to see what works best for you.