Blood Sugar Highs & Lows
What You Should Know... What You Should Do
Low Blood Sugar
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) happens when you eat too little or not often enough, exercise more than usual, take too much of some Diabetes medicine/s, or drink alcohol. Symptoms to look out for include:
Hunger
Nervousness and shakiness
Sweating
Dizziness or light-headedness
Sleepiness
Confusion
Trouble speaking
Feeling anxious or weak
Remember, Are You in Control.
If you have any of these symptoms, test your blood sugar. If it's low, eat or drink a small amount of something that has sugar, like two or three glucose tablets, five or six pieces of hard candy, or 1/2 cup of fruit juice.
After 15 minutes, test again. If your blood sugar is still low, or you still have symptoms, have another serving of sugar. Wait 15 minutes and test again. If you have low blood sugar several times a week, call your doctor.
If you having symptoms but your meter shows that your blood sugar is fine, recheck your blood sugar and follow the steps above. This can happen if your meter isn't working right.
NEVER DRIVE while you have low blood sugar or symptoms of low blood sugar.
Extremely High Blood Sugar
Extreme high blood sugar can lead to two life-threatening conditions:
Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Nonketotic Syndrome (HHNS) is most often seen in elderly people. It is usually caused by an illness, infection, or by missing doses of your medicine. HHNS may take days or even weeks to develop. If it continues, the severe dehydration will lead to seizures, coma and eventually death.
In HHNS, blood sugar levels rise, and the body tries to get rid of the excess sugar by passing it into your urine. You will make a lot of urine at first. Later you may not have to go to the bathroom as often, and your urine becomes very dark. You may get very thirsty. Even if you are not thirsty, drink liquids. This will help keep you from getting dehydrated.
Know the warning signs:
Very high blood sugar level (over 600 mg/dL)
Extreme thirst (although this may gradually disappear)
Dry mouth
Warm, dry skin that does not sweat
High fever
Sleepiness or confusion
Loss of vision
Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there)
Weakness on one side of the body
Test your blood sugar if symptoms appear. Drink fluids if you can. Call your doctor right away.
Ketoacidosis is a serious condition that can lead to diabetic coma or even death. Ketoacidosis means dangerously high levels of ketones, which are acids that build up in the blood. They appear in the urine when your body doesn't have enough insulin, and are a warning that your diabetes is out of control or that you are getting sick.
When to check for ketones
When your blood glucose is more than 240 mg/dL, check every 4-6 hours
When you are ill, check every 4-6 hours
When you have any symptoms of Ketoacidosis
Know the warning signs:
Thirst or a very dry mouth
Frequent urination
High blood glucose (sugar) levels
Constantly feeling tired
Dry or flushed skin
Nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain (Vomiting can be caused by many illnesses, not just Ketoacidosis. If vomiting continues for more than two hours, contact your healthcare provider.)
A hard time breathing (short, deep breaths)
Fruity odor on breath
A hard time paying attention, or confusion
If you have these symptoms, test your blood sugar and your urine ketones. Call your doctor at once if:
Your urine tests show high levels of ketones
Your urine tests show high levels of ketones and your blood glucose level is high
You have vomited more than twice in four hours and your urine tests show high ketones
Understanding Your Glucose Numbers:
Blood sugar readings - How to translate them, & what to do.
Above 180 mg/dL
A blood sugar level greater than 180 mg/dL, one to two hours after the start of a meal, or greater than 130 mg/dL before a meal, shows that your diabetes is not under good control.
Call your doctor to talk about your blood sugar level if you high blood sugar several times a week. You may need a check-up, or a change in your treatment.
100 to 140 mg/dL
This is your target blood sugar range at bedtime.
90 to 130 mg/dL
This is your target "fasting" blood sugar range before you eat.
70 mg/dL or below
You may have low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
Seek medical attention if you get low blood sugar several times a week.
It is important to understand what can make your blood glucose rise or fall, so that you can take steps to stay on target.
Things that can make blood glucose rise:
• A meal or snack with more food or more carbohydrates than usual
• Inactivity
• Side effects of medications
• Infection or other illness
• Changes in hormone levels, such as during menstrual periods
• Stress
Things that can make blood glucose fall:
•A meal or snack with less food or fewer carbohydrates than usual
•Extra activity
•Side effects of other medications
•Missing a meal or snack
•Drinking alcoholic beverages (especially on an empty stomach)
Testing for High Blood Glucose
A simple blood test, called the fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test, will tell you if your glucose levels are too high.
According to the American diabetes association, here are the numbers:
Healthy blood glucose: FPG under 100
Pre-diabetes: FPG 100 - 125
Diabetes: FPG more than 125