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Can Supplements Cause Low Blood Sugar? The Signs to Know
Can supplements cause low blood sugar? Public sources describe a few rare cases, mostly when a supplement such as chromium was taken with insulin. Low blood sugar is more often tied to diabetes medicine. Know the symptoms, and call 911 for a person who faints or is confused.
Written by the Payarmin label deskUpdated · 4 min read
The short answer01
Can supplements cause low blood sugar?
They can in rare cases, and the evidence is thin.
The NCCIH chromium summary lists low blood sugar in a 29-year-old man with diabetes who took chromium with insulin (MSKCC, Chromium). The NIH fact sheet says chromium with insulin could raise the risk of low blood sugar (NIH ODS, Chromium).
The NIDDK page on low blood glucose does not mention supplements at all (NIDDK, Low blood glucose). So the strongest link is medicine plus supplement, not supplement alone.
Payarmin has not been tested as a finished product for this. We found no study, so we make no claim either way.
Symptoms02
What are the symptoms of low blood sugar?
Symptoms run from mild to severe, and severe ones are an emergency (NIDDK, Low blood glucose).
| Level | What a person may notice | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Mild to moderate | Shakiness, hunger, tiredness, dizziness, irritability, fast or irregular heartbeat, headache, trouble seeing, trouble speaking | Check glucose and treat with fast sugar; recheck in 15 minutes |
| Severe | Confusion, loss of consciousness or a seizure | Call 911; someone else may need to give glucagon |
The page says that for many people with diabetes, low means under 70 mg/dL, and that your number may differ.
Who is at risk03
Who is most likely to get low blood sugar?
People who use diabetes medicine are at the highest risk.
Medicine users
Insulin, sulfonylureas and meglitinides can cause lows (NIDDK, Low blood glucose).
Older adults
Age 65 or older raises the chance (NIDDK, Low blood glucose).
Health conditions
Kidney disease, heart disease or trouble thinking clearly add risk (NIDDK, Low blood glucose).
Past lows
A prior low raises the chance of another (NIDDK, Low blood glucose).
If you fall in a group above, ask your clinician before you add any supplement. Keep taking prescribed medicine, and see the medicines guide.
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See packsKeep notes04
How can I spot a pattern if I feel shaky?
Write it down the same day, with times.
- What you took and when, including supplements.
- What and when you last ate.
- Your glucose reading, if you have a meter.
- How you felt, and how long it lasted.
Show the notes to your clinician. The blood sugar basics guide explains the terms, and the side effects page covers the Payarmin label cautions.
FAQ05
Low blood sugar questions
Do I need a glucose meter to use this advice?
No, but many people with diabetes already have one. Without a meter, note symptoms and times, and call your clinician for repeated spells. Anyone who faints or is confused needs 911, whatever the number.
Is shakiness always low blood sugar?
No. Shakiness also comes from caffeine, hunger, stress and other causes. Guarana and green tea in the Payarmin blend contain caffeine (MSKCC, Guarana), and too much caffeine can cause jitters (FDA, How much caffeine). A meter reading or a clinician can tell the two apart.
How much sugar treats a mild low?
NIDDK suggests 15 to 20 grams of glucose or carbohydrate, such as four glucose tablets or 4 to 6 ounces of juice, then a recheck after 15 minutes (NIDDK, Low blood glucose). Ask your care team to confirm the plan that fits you.
Can low blood sugar happen without diabetes?
The sources we read focus on people with diabetes and do not address this. If you feel faint, shaky or confused often, see a clinician for tests rather than guess or add a supplement.
Who wrote this06
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the sales page and linked NIH, FDA, CDC, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by Gopayarmin, a Payarmin U.S. shop, not by the manufacturer or the distributor. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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