Green salad (1 piece)

Add protein and fat to the salad—such as eggs, tofu, chicken, salmon, avocado, or nuts—to slow digestion and make glucose changes steadier.

Include a modest portion of a slower-digesting carbohydrate, such as lentils, chickpeas, black beans, or quinoa, rather than eating only leafy vegetables.

Use a substantial dressing with olive oil, tahini, or plain Greek yogurt; avoid sweetened dressings, honey, croutons, and sugary dried fruit.

Avoid having the salad as your only meal if you are prone to glucose drops; combine it with a balanced protein-and-fiber side.

Check whether the drop is related to insulin or other glucose-lowering medication, especially if the salad replaces a meal that normally contains more carbohydrate; discuss recurring lows with your clinician.

Treat a confirmed symptomatic low promptly according to your diabetes care plan, and seek urgent help for severe symptoms such as confusion, fainting, or inability to swallow.