DIABETES

Gluco Tabs Juicy Raspberry, 90p, pack of ten CLAIM: Fast-acting glucose energy tablets with no artificial colours or preservatives. Chew one to three tablets when you need a burst of fastacting glucose. EXPERT VERDICT: ‘For people with diabetes who have low blood sugar, glucose tablets can be very effective,’ says Sid Dajani, a pharmacist in Eastleigh, Hampshire.

‘When someone’s blood sugar level drops too low — usually because the timing or dose of their medication wasn’t right — it’s vital to get it back up quickly.’ If you don’t, it can lead to dizziness, confusion and even death.

‘The only way to treat low blood sugar is to take a form of glucose [sugar],’ says Sid Dajani.

‘Most people would have jelly babies or fruit juice, but the sugar in such products — and even a standard sugar cube — is usually a combination of glucose and fructose [fruit sugar], and this takes longer to break down in the body.

‘This product contains pure glucose — as does Lucozade — so gives a fast hit [3.7g per tab] when needed.’