A form of carbohydrate that will raise blood glucose levels
relatively quickly when ingested. The term “fast-acting
carbohydrate” is generally used in discussions of treating
hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar. However, as research
accumulates on the subject of carbohydrates and how quickly they
are absorbed, some diabetes experts say the term has become
outdated. What defines hypoglycemia varies from source to
source, but it generally refers to a blood glucose level below
70 mg/dl. In many cases, this will produce the typical symptoms
of low blood sugar, which include trembling, sweating, heart
palpitations, butterflies in the stomach, irritability, hunger,
or fatigue. Severe hypoglycemia can cause drowsiness, poor
concentration, confusion, and even unconsciousness. Diabetes
care experts generally recommend checking one’s blood sugar
level whenever possible to confirm hypoglycemia before treating
it. To treat hypoglycemia, the standard advice is to consume
10-15 grams of “fast-acting” carbohydrate. Each of the