What Happens If Blood Sugar Is Above 500

September 9, 2021

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High Blood Glucose: Diabetic Ketoacidosis

What to do When Blood Sugar Glucose is above 400 500 600 Symptoms RISKS if positive urine ketone

If your insulin level is too low, your blood glucose could become so high that it is unsafe. You might develop a serious problem called diabetic ketoacidosis . This usually happens in people with Type 1 diabetes and those with glucose levels over 500.

If you have DKA, chemicals called ketones start to make a lot of acid in your body. The acid and high blood glucose can make you very sick. You might also become dehydrated . You can prevent DKA by carefully giving yourself the correct insulin dose every day.

If you have any of the following symptoms of DKA, get to your local emergency department right away. You need to be treated with insulin and fluids that are given to you through an IV :

Blurry vision
Dry mouth, eyes or skin
Fast breathing
Feeling very weak or tired
Fruity-smelling breath
Stomach pain, nausea or vomiting

Treatment Of High Blood Sugar In Dogs

Treatment will vary significantly depending upon the diagnosis.

Diabetes mellitus will be treated with a combination of insulin and diet modification designed to optimize body weight.
Pancreatitis will be treated through hospitalization, giving the dog analgesics, antiinflammatories and intravenous fluids for several days. While withholding oral fluids and food in order to allow to pancreas to reset was once advised, low fat nourishing food is now recommended as part of the initial treatment. Pancreatitis can be life threatening, however most dogs will recover without long-term consequences.
Hyperadrenocorticism ;will be treated with one of several drugs designed to lower the bodys production of cortisol. The veterinarian will prescribe the drug that best fits the severity of your dogs condition. Most cases of hyperadrenocorticism are caused by a pituitary tumor. Fewer are caused by an adrenal gland tumor in which radiation or surgery may be necessary.
For high blood sugar caused by reaction to medication, the use of the medication will be stopped if appropriate and an appropriate substitute will be found.
For temporary causes such as just having eaten, having eaten a high-sugar meal, exertion, excitement or stress, no treatment is needed, and the blood sugar will return to normal. In the case of feeding inappropriate food or causing the dog excess stress, take action to ensure this does not happen again.

Hyperglycemia And Hypoglycemia In Type 2 Diabetes

If someone has diabetes that isnt treated properly, they have too much sugar in their blood . Too little sugar in the bloodstream is usually a side effect of treatment with blood-sugar-lowering medication.

Diabetes is a metabolic disease in which there’s a problem with insulin . It can affect your health in many ways. In type 2 diabetes, not enough insulin is released into the bloodstream, or the insulin cant be used properly. In type 1 diabetes, the body only produces very little insulin, or none at all.

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What Does Diabetes Pee Smell Like

If you have diabetes, you may notice your pee smells sweet or fruity. This is because the body is trying to get rid of the excess blood sugar and is disposing of glucose through your urine. For people who havent been diagnosed with diabetes, this symptom can be one of the first signs they have the disease.

Take A Correction Dose

For those who take fast or rapid-acting insulin Novolog, Humalog, Apidra, Fiasp, Admelog, Afrezza you can take a correction dose to bring a high blood sugar down.

A correction factor is determined with support from your healthcare team. This number tells you how much 1 unit of fast or rapid-acting insulin will lower your blood sugar. For example, a correction factor of 1:50 means that 1 unit of insulin will lower your blood sugar by 50 points.

Its important to keep in mind how much insulin you may already have on board in your bloodstream before taking an additional dose of insulin.;

Most fast and rapid-acting insulin stays in your system for approximately 3 to 4 hours, which means taking an additional dose of insulin to correct a high could lead to a severe low blood sugar if you already have a significant amount of insulin from your most recent dose still in your bloodstream.

Also, remember to give that correction dose of insulin at least two hours to make an impact on your blood sugar before getting frustrated and taking another injection. You wont see a significant improvement in your blood sugar until its been in your system for at least 2 to 3 hours .

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How Are High Blood Sugar Levels Treated

To treat high blood sugar, it helps to know what is causing it. You might need to take more insulin or diabetes pills because you’re growing and eating more food, or you might need to get more exercise each day.

Having high blood sugar levels every once in a while isn’t a big deal. It happens to everyone with diabetes from time to time. But if your blood sugar levels are high a lot, your diabetes health care team will have to help you figure out how to get them back to a healthy level.

What Are The Symptoms Of Diabetic Coma

The following symptoms are your bodys warning signs that your blood sugar is too high or too low.

Whenever you have these symptoms, check your blood sugar. If it is too high or too low, treat it according to your healthcare providers instructions to prevent a diabetic coma. If you have had diabetes for a long time, you may fall into a coma without showing any of the symptoms.

Some symptoms of hyperglycemia are:

Tiredness.

Taking too much insulin.

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What To Do In An Emergency

A diabetic emergency happens when symptoms relating to diabetes overwhelm the body.

At this point, home treatment is unlikely to help, and delaying medical care could cause permanent damage or death.

Some of the signs that can indicate a serious problem include:

chest pain that radiates down the arm
difficulty breathing
a severe headache and weakness in one side of the body
seizures
loss of consciousness

If there are signs of an emergency, the person should go to the emergency room, or they or someone with them should call 911 immediately.

Without rapid help, some diabetic emergencies can be life-threatening.

It is not always possible to prevent an emergency, but being able to recognize the signs can improve the chances of early treatment and a full recovery.

Strategies that can help to reduce the risk of an emergency include:

Following the treatment plan: Use medications as a doctor prescribes and keep in touch with the healthcare team. If a person cannot remember whether or not they took their last dose of drugs, they should ask a doctor before taking a further dose. This can help to prevent hypoglycemia. Anyone who notices a change in their symptoms should see a doctor.

Eating healthful, balanced, regular meals: People who use insulin or other medications that lower blood glucose should ask their doctor about what foods to eat, how much, and when, in order to maintain stable blood sugar levels. Small, frequent meals are better than fewer larger meals.

Blood Sugar Over 500 What To Do

Blood Sugar Above 400 mg or 500 mg How to Treat Diabetes Insulin injection or tablets

It is important to stay on top of your blood sugar levels. This especially true for those who are pre-diabetic, or have been diagnosed with diabetes.

However, keeping your blood sugar in range is something that has health benefits for anyone.;

Medical professionals usually provide those monitoring their blood sugar levels with a scale that includes information about blood sugars level ranges given in milligrams per deciliters .

What Level Of Blood Sugar Is Dangerous?

These are often individualized for each persons unique body physiology, but nearly all people taking the time to monitor their blood sugar levels aim to keep their levels in a safe range usually below 200 mg/dL.;

Hyperglycemia is the condition attributed to dangerously high levels of blood sugar. If you find your blood sugar much higher than the 200 mg/dL, you should take steps to lower it.

So if you find your blood sugar over 500 it requires immediate action. Heres a list of suggestions of what to do.

Tip No. 1 Call Your Doctor

Health professionals suggest calling your doctor if you are diabetic and your blood sugar level goes over 300 mg/dL. So a blood sugar level over 500 mg/dL is most often considered a medical emergency.;

Hyperglycemia can cause medical issues that can be fatal if untreated. Depending on the situation, you may not be able to handle the situation at home.

So make sure you check with a medical professional to ensure you do not need to visit the hospital.

Tip No. 2 Take Your Insulin

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Risks Of Blood Sugar Levels Over 500

Having blood sugar at optimal levels is important for health and survival, for glucose is the bodyâs main energy source. In a healthy human body, when blood sugar rises after a meal, the pancreas releases insulin to help the cells use the glucose for energy. In a diabetic, either the pancreas does not secrete insulin or the body is unable to utilize it effectively, causing blood sugar to build up in the bloodstream to levels that are higher than normal, a condition called hyperglycemia.

If left untreated, blood sugar levels can rise dangerously high,and blood sugar levels over 500 mg/dl can be life-threatening. If blood glucose levels are brought under control, it can lead to serious health complications and even cause birth defects in case of pregnant women.

Blood sugar levels over 500 mg/dl can lead to:

What Are The Dangers Of A Sugar Count Over 500

Consider Talking To Your Doctor

If you think you’ve been doing all you can to keep blood sugar in control, but still have high blood sugar readings, it might be time to switch medication. Diabetes is a progressive disease, and over time, the beta cells in the pancreas that produce insulin can stop making the hormone. “So, even if your numbers have held steady for years, that could change if the beta cells change, which is usually a gradual change but can be sudden,” says Rice. “That change doesn’t mean you’ve done anything wrong, it’s just the nature of the disease. The beta cells can only put out so much insulin, and over time they start to put out less.” Your doctor will look at the big picture and do additional testing to find out if there is a bigger problem.

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Do Take Medication Or Insulin If Required

High Blood Sugar Glucose Reading over 500

If you are taking insulin and on a sliding scale, check your scale and take your medication as prescribed.

If you skipped a dose of an oral medication, contact the pharmacy for instructions on getting back on track with your scheduled dose.

TIP: If you frequently find you are forgetting to take medication, try setting an alarm on your phone for daily reminders. Its also helpful if you keep your medication in plain sight and in a place you visit frequently such as a kitchen or bathroom.

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How To Bring High Blood Sugar Down Fast

Everyone with diabetes is bound to experience high blood sugars. There are simply too many variables out of our control to prevent high blood sugars from ever happening.;

But the best thing we can do when they do happen is to help them come down as quickly as possible.

Here are four things you can do to bring a high blood sugar level down quickly.

Preventing high blood sugars

A Guide On What To Do When Your Blood Sugar 500

Is your blood sugar 500? Are you worried about how to keep the blood sugar level on normal? Well, spend some time and read the things mentioned here. This will help you in many ways and lead a path to live a trouble-free and healthy life. In the present era, diabetes becomes one of the common and frequent diseases among people regardless of ages. Even though having diabetes is common, you should maintain it without crossing the borderline.

The situation when your blood sugar level crossing the mark of 500 you are actually in the trouble. In fact, this is the medical emergency and you need medical assistance as soon as possible. In case, the blood sugar level is getting high continuously, you have to follow certain things to reduce the glucose level in the blood. Before knowing those things, take a glance at the importance of glucose level in the blood.

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Blood Sugar Over 500 What To Do Final Tip No 7 Try To Exercise

Exercising makes your body better able to accept glucose into the bloodstream, and can therefore lower blood sugar levels for more than 24 hours as cells deliver glucose to muscles and tissues. When exercising, try to get your heart rate up for about 30 minutes.

Its important to check your urine for ketones, because strenuous exercise above 250mg/dL can cause complications to hyperglycemia.;

The Causes Of High Blood Sugar

Diabetes Blood Sugar 500 No Insulin

In general, higher than normal blood glucose levels can be caused by:

not taking your diabetes medicine when you’re supposed to or not taking the right amounts
eating more food than your meal plan allows
not getting enough exercise
having an illness, like the flu
taking other kinds of medicines that affect how your diabetes medicines work

Keeping blood sugar levels close to normal can be hard sometimes, and nobody’s perfect. Grown-ups can help you stay in balance if you have diabetes. Sometimes blood sugar levels can be high because you’re growing and your doctor needs to make some changes in your diabetes treatment plan.

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Dangers Of Blood Sugar Levels Over 500 Mg/dl

People with blood sugar levels over 500 mg/dl are usually those who have not yet been diagnosed yet and are not treating the disease. In all cases, blood sugar levels that high are a medical emergency. While most complications will only occur after prolonged bouts of hyperglycemia, there are two conditions that can cause death very quickly if the blood sugar levels are not brought under control.

Diabetic ketoacidosis occurs when there is no insulin being produced, as is the case with all type 1 diabetics and some type 2 diabetics. Glucose accumulates in the bloodstream and the body begins to burn up stored fat for energy instead. Ketones, a by-product of this process, also circulate in the blood. Excess ketones together with high levels of blood sugar make the blood extremely acidic. If not treated quickly, the high levels of acidity can cause irreversible damage to tissues and cells in the body, eventually leading to death.

When To See A Doctor

According to the University of Michigan, blood sugar levels of 300 mg/dL or more can be dangerous. They recommend calling a doctor if you have two readings in a row of 300 or more.

See your doctor if you have consistently high blood sugar levels. Symptoms of this include:

increased thirst
high levels of sugar in urine

Ask your doctor how often to check your blood sugar and about your ideal blood sugar levels.

If you dont currently see a doctor who specializes in diabetes, known as an endocrinologist, you can find one by searching the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists website.

You can find a certified diabetes educator by visiting the American Diabetes Associations website and searching by zip code.

Summary

Talk to your doctor if you have consistently high blood sugar readings or symptoms of chronic hyperglycemia.

Checking your blood sugar and then treating hyperglycemia early will help prevent any complications.

Health problems can arise when someone has high blood sugar regularly and without treatment.

Examples of complications include:

nerve damage, called diabetic neuropathy, that may affect sensations in the feet and hands
diabetic retinopathy, or damage to the blood vessels in the eyes that affects vision
increased risks for kidney problems
increased risks for heart problems

Taking steps to keep your blood sugar at target levels can help to minimize the likelihood that these complications will occur.

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How High Must That Number On The Glucose Meter Be In Order For It To Warrant A Trip To The Emergency Room Stat

Should you zip to the emergency room if your blood sugar is over 300 no matter how you feel?

First of all, if youre fearing that your body is in urgent need of medical care due to a very high blood sugar, dont drive; have someone drive you.

Blood Sugar Numbers and Emergency Room Visits

Its not a number; its how you feel, says Susan L. Besser, MD, with Mercy Medical Center, Baltimore, and Diplomate American Board of Obesity Medicine and board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine.

Some diabetics walk around with a sugar in the 400s and really dont have many symptoms, whereas others go into a coma at a sugar in the upper 200s, continues Dr. Besser.

Dont just look at the number. Look at the person. And if you arent sure, call your PCP first. He or she knows you best and can advise you what to do.

Nevertheless, if you learn that your blood sugar is in the 400s simply because it was time to take a scheduled glucose reading, but you feel perfectly fine, its not necessary to go to the emergency room.