Diabetes Related High and Low Blood Sugar Levels

Anyone who has Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes may from time to time have issues with high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) or low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) which can be triggered from having a common cold.
Recognizing and managing high and low blood sugar levels is critical to avoid medical emergencies such as dehydration and other even more severe issues, and mostly this can be done from home by following your health care professionals instructions.

Recognizing Blood Sugar Levels

If you are taking your medication as directed, following your diet and exercise plan and managing your blood sugar levels, chances are that they remain in the range you and your doctor have determined is best for you. However, if you have any other health issues, it is important that you do regular blood sugar testing to ensure that you do not allow your blood sugar to fall below normal levels or climb too high.

High blood sugar occurs when the sugar (glucose) level in your blood rises above normal. Eating too many calories, missing medicines (insulin or pills), or having an infection or illness, injury, surgery, or emotional stress can cause your blood sugar to rise.

Causes Of High Blood Sugar

Elevated blood sugar levels can be brought on by consuming too many calories, a delay in taking your diabetes medications, any type of infection or injury or even emotional stress. Typically high blood sugar doesn't occur instantly (unless caused by missing a dose of insulin), instead it develops over several hours or several days. If your blood sugar levels are just above the 'safe' level, you may simply feel a little more tired than normal or feel thirsty. if your blood sugar levels stay at that level (even a higher than normal level) for an extended period of time, you tend to have fewer symptoms.

High blood sugar levels are easy to treat, and the easiest way to avoid them are regularly testing to see if your levels are elevated, contacting your doctor if your levels are consistently elevated and drinking extra water (or de-caffeinated/sugar free beverages) to prevent dehydration. If left unchecked, high sugar levels can cause complications including those associated with eye, heart and kidney diseases.

Symptoms Of Low Blood Sugar

When your blood sugar levels drop below normal from failure to eat properly, over medicating or too much exercise, it is considered to be hypoglycemia. A slight drop in the 'low' range can cause you to feel tired, sweaty, and increase your heart rate. If you eat something sugary, the symptoms may go away. For those who are diabetic, symptoms may not be so obvious (hypoglycemic unawareness) and since this change can happen quickly, it may cause a loss of consciousness or seizure. Symptoms of low blood sugar can come on as rapidly as fifteen minutes, and if your sugar tends to go from a very high level to a closer to normal level you may exhibit symptoms that are similar to hypoglycemia.

Treatment Of High Blood Sugar

The symptoms of hypoglycemia can be corrected quickly by consuming 'high sugar' foods such as 1 tablespoon of sugar, ½ cup of fruit juice, 1 cup of fat free milk, 3 pieces of hard candy or ½ of a tube of glucose gel. If you find that you are prone to hypoglycemia you may consider carrying life savers (8 will help reverse the effects) or hard candy (3 pieces will help) or glucose tablets (3 will reverse the effects of hypoglycemia) with you when you are away from home.

Ongoing issues with hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia should be discussed with your health care professional.