A 44-year-old member asked:

I gave blood and had a scary experience with low blood sugar. how can i keep this from happening next time?

2 doctor answers6 doctors weighed in
Dr. Danny Proffitt
Family Medicine 45 years experience
Eat and hydrate: You should prepare for your next blood donation. You should vigorously hydrate yourself with a quart or more of fluids before the procedure and drink plenty of fluids before and after the donation and also eat some high protein and complex carbohydrate foods before the donation. It would not be a good idea to eat immediately before the donation. Some simple things like hard candy just before ok.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Dr. Muhammad-ali Zaydan
Specializes in Hematology and Oncology
Gatorade: Srink plenty of gatorade or equivalent prior to donating blood.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Last updated Apr 19, 2012
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