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Short answer: Glucose tablets are chewable or dissolvable tablets whose active ingredient is dextrose, a form of glucose. The U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) names them, with glucose gel, as a fast-acting carbohydrate used for low blood glucose. Strength per tablet varies by product, so the label defines what a tablet contains.
This page is general product information, not medical advice. It does not tell any person what to take or how much.
Definition and scope
A glucose tablet is a small, usually chewable tablet made to deliver glucose (dextrose) by mouth. Glucose gel is the same kind of fast-acting carbohydrate in a squeezable tube. Both are named by NIDDK as fast-acting carbohydrate options. This guide covers what the products are and what to check on their labels. It does not cover treatment decisions.
How glucose tablets and gel are used in practice
NIDDK’s patient page on low blood glucose (hypoglycemia), last reviewed July 2021, describes the products in these terms:
- It advises carrying a source of fast-acting carbohydrate,
such as glucose tablets or a juice box
.
These are NIDDK’s statements to patients, quoted for context. Individual instructions come from the person’s own clinician.
Types and related products
What are glucose tablets made of?
The active ingredient is dextrose. The U.S. National Library of Medicine’s DailyMed lists one store-brand glucose chewable tablet (Target Corporation label, manufactured by Time Cap Laboratories, label updated 30 April 2024) with anhydrous dextrose as the active ingredient, 400 mg per tablet, oral, 50 tablets per bottle. Other ingredients, such as flavors, colors and binders, differ between brands and are listed on each product’s own label.
What is glucose gel?
Glucose gel is a gel form of glucose supplied in a tube. Gel ingredients also vary by brand and are read from the product label.
Glucose tablets vs glucose gel
| Point | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| Named as a fast-acting option by NIDDK | Both, in the same sentence (NIDDK) |
| Form | Tablet (counted) or tube (single unit) |
Where it matters for labs, clinics and supply decisions
Why the label, not the generic name, defines the product
The DailyMed store-brand label lists 400 mg of dextrose per tablet and a marketing category of dietary supplement, not an over-the-counter drug. Two points follow for anyone stocking these products:
- The words “glucose tablets” do not fix the amount per tablet. The grams of glucose stated per tablet or per tube differ by product and are printed on the label, which is why products must be compared on their labels and not by name.
- This particular product is regulated as a dietary supplement, so its label is a supplement label. Other glucose products may be categorised differently, which is also read from the label or the DailyMed record.
Label items to compare when more than one product is stocked
- Active ingredient and the amount per tablet or per tube, in the units printed on the label.
- The grams of glucose or carbohydrate the label states per serving, so staff can match product quantities to the amounts a clinician has specified.
- The marketing category shown on the label or the DailyMed record.
- Lot number and expiry date on the container.
- Any allergen or dye statement printed on the label.
For how these items fit alongside the rest of a clinic’s stock, see the diabetes clinic supply checklist, the school nurse office supply checklist and the dental office medical emergency supply checklist. For the regulatory background on which products count as devices at all, see what is a medical device.
Common misunderstandings
- “A glucose tablet has a standard strength.” It does not; the DailyMed store-brand product lists 400 mg of dextrose per tablet, and other products state their own amounts.
FAQ
What is a glucose tablet?
A tablet whose active ingredient is dextrose (glucose), taken by mouth. One DailyMed-listed product contains 400 mg of anhydrous dextrose per tablet.
What is glucose gel?
A tube-form glucose product.
What are the ingredients in glucose tablets and glucose gel?
Dextrose is the active ingredient of the tablet listed on DailyMed. Remaining ingredients vary by brand and are printed on each product’s label.
Sources
- NIDDK, Low Blood Glucose (Hypoglycemia), National Institutes of Health; checked 2026-10-30.
- U.S. National Library of Medicine, DailyMed, Glucose tablet, chewable (Target Corporation); label updated 30 April 2024; checked 2026-10-30.
