Oral glucose gel is an over-the-counter medication, consisting primarily of dextrose and water, along with small amounts of other compounds.
Hypoglycaemia occurs when blood sugar levels drop too low; it can cause a variety of symptoms including hunger, sweating, rapid heart rate, and shaking.
A 1978 study demonstrated poor absorption through the oral mucosa, and concluded that such gels have therapeutic value only when swallowed by the patient.
[5] The American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council recommend against the use of oral gels, in favour of more effective treatments such as glucagon injections or glucose tablets.
[6] A 2013 Cochrane Review concluded glucose gels were an effective treatment for neonatal hypoglycaemia;[7] a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial published by the same authors drew the same conclusion.