If possible, use soda instead of orange juice because orange juice pulp can clog the tube. Don't use glucose tablets, which can also clog the line. If your patient remains symptomatic after receiving 30 grams of glucose through a GI tube, you may need to administer parenteral glucose. A patient who's taking the new oral hypoglycemic acarbose needs special treatment for hypoglycemia. Acarbose inhibits the breakdown of sucrose and delays absorption of starches.
Milk is considered a treatment option.
Finally, no matter how you deliver glucose to a mildly hypoglycemic patient, make sure you follow all of the steps in your protocol until your patient responds to treatment. If she doesn't respond, check her blood glucose again. Also check her urine ketone levels, which will rise as the body breaks down fats to produce more glucose. Treating moderate and severe hypoglycemia You'll know your patient has moderate hypoglycemia if you see significant neurologic symptoms. She may be confused, have slurred speech, and show behavioral changes.