Avoiding low blood sugar in diabetics

DALLAS, Dec. 25 (UPI) -- Driving demands a sharp mind and quick reflexes, so even a small drop in blood sugar in diabetics can have disastrous results, a U.S. dietitian warns.

Joyce Barnett, a registered dietitian and assistant professor of clinical nutrition at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, says one way people with diabetes can avoid hypoglycemia is to plan trips around meals.

"It's very important not to skip meals or scheduled snack times, especially when taking insulin," Barnett says in a statement. "Skipping meals or snacks increases the risk of hypoglycemia."

Barnett says people with diabetes must always keep carbohydrate-rich foods -- such as Glucose tabs, hard candy, and regular not diet sodas -- on hand in case their blood sugar drops

"If somebody's blood glucose levels drop, the general guideline is to eat or drink 15 grams of a carbohydrate-rich food or beverage, wait 15 minutes, then test again," Barnett says.