What does slurred speech feel like with hypoglycaemia?

Words may sound thick, slow, or difficult to understand. The person may know what they want to say but struggle to organise or pronounce it, and they may appear drowsy, irritable, shaky, or distracted. Low blood glucose can affect thinking as well as speech, so the person may not recognise the change themselves. Slurred speech has other possible causes, including stroke, so improvement after glucose does not remove the need for assessment when the onset was sudden or the episode is unusual.

If the person is awake, alert enough to swallow, and has a clinician-provided plan, follow it and give the recommended fast-acting carbohydrate. Stay with them and reassess as advised by their plan. Do not give food, drink, or tablets to someone who is unconscious, having a seizure, or unable to swallow safely; place them on their side and call emergency services. Do not leave them alone to recover.

Get emergency help if the person cannot swallow, becomes unconscious, has a seizure, remains confused, or does not improve promptly after the agreed treatment. Sudden slurred speech with facial drooping, one-sided weakness, severe headache, vision loss, or difficulty walking is also an emergency because stroke must be considered. Seek medical advice after repeated episodes or when the cause is unclear.

Ask how to recognise your early warning signs, what treatment to keep available, and when to recheck glucose. Discuss medication, meals, activity, alcohol, and what other person should do if you cannot treat yourself.