Sunday, March 24, 2024
HomeMust ReadWhat To Do If Blood Sugar Is Too High

What To Do If Blood Sugar Is Too High


Instant Remedial Solutions For Quickly Bringing Down Raised Up Blood Sugar Levels

10 Alarming Signs Your Blood Sugar Is Too High

There are times when blood sugar levels are uncontrollably raised up. To cope up with the situation, you must be ready with some instant solutions to revert back your raised up blood sugar levels to normal again and get immediate relief.

1. Drink plenty of water whenever there is an increase in blood sugar levels, the very first and foremost thing is to keep the body perfectly hydrated. If you are suffering from Hyperglycemia but not drinking plenty of water, there are high chances that you will be lying on the hospital bed in the near future. There is a subtle physiological phenomenon behind this.

When the body is dehydrated, the vasopressin hormone is released by the hypothalamus whose function is to prevent loss of water from the body. Vasopressin causes kidneys to retain fluids as a result of which body cannot flush out excess of sugar through urine. Now, this sugar has to reside in our body within our bloodstream. Moreover, vasopressin stimulates the liver as well to release sugar into the blood thereby making the situation even worse.

Hence, make sure to keep yourself fully hydrated in case of increased blood sugar.


2. Exercising a little can help a lot even a light exercise done for a short time interval can instantly lower down your blood sugar to an appreciable extent.

When Should I Check My Blood Sugar

How often you check your blood sugar depends on the type of diabetes you have and if you take any diabetes medicines.

Typical times to check your blood sugar include:

  • When you first wake up, before you eat or drink anything.
  • Before a meal.
  • Two hours after a meal.
  • At bedtime.

If you have type 1 diabetes, have type 2 diabetes and take insulin, or often have low blood sugar, your doctor may want you to check your blood sugar more often, such as before and after youre physically active.

When To Contact Your Healthcare Provider

Hyperglycemia can turn into a medical emergency like DKA and HHS that requires immediate intervention by your practitioner or a local emergency department. If you have two blood sugar readings of 300 mg/dL or more, or have blood sugar above your target range for more than a week, seek immediate medical help.


Signs of hyperglycemia include:

  • Ketones in your urine
  • Stomach pain, nausea, or vomiting
  • Shortness of breath

Also Check: Metformin Sweating Side Effects

Is Having High Blood Glucose Dangerous

In short, it can be. Zanini says that untreated high blood glucose can lead to a wide range of health issuesâsome of the most common being chronic inflammation, heart disease, vision impairment, kidney disease, nerve damage, tooth decay, damaged blood vessels, and periodontal disease.

Having high blood glucose also puts us at risk of mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. The former is a condition in which mitochondria fail to produce energy for cells. The latter occurs when free radicals outnumber antioxidants in the body and increase the risk of disease and other damage.

Phipps notes to avoid these risks, catching high blood glucose early on, then taking action to treat it is extremely important.


High Blood Glucose: Hyperglycemia

This is What You Do When Your Blood Sugar is Too High

Hyperglycemia means that you have too much blood glucose. It happens when your blood glucose level is around 200 mg/dL or higher. Hyperglycemia can happen if you miss taking your diabetes medications, eat too much or do not get enough exercise. Sometimes, the medications you take for other problems cause high blood glucose.

Symptoms of hyperglycemia include:

  • Having blurry vision
  • Having to urinate often

If you have these symptoms, check your blood glucose right away. If its too high, follow these steps:

  • Check your blood glucose every four hours. If your level does not go down after two checks or your symptoms get worse, call a member of your diabetes team.
  • Drink water or other sugar-free liquids, such as diet soda or Crystal Light.
  • You may need to take an extra dose of insulin. Your diabetes educator talks with you more about this.

Don’t Miss: Can You Get A Tattoo If Your Diabetic

Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Nonketotic Syndrome : A Complication Of Severe Hyperglycemia In Type 2 Diabetes

In people with type 2 diabetes, extreme hyperglycemia can lead to a very rare but serious condition called hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic syndrome, or HHNS). HHNS is most likely to occur when you’re sick particularly if you aren’t able to drink enough fluids or keep fluids down. It happens most often in elderly people and, like ketoacidosis, can result in a coma.


How To Bring Down The Blood Sugar Level Quickly

When level of blood sugar is dangerous, you need to bring it down quickly, to avoid further complications. When trying to lower down the sugar level quickly, be very careful, as the level can drop down too low, which can also be dangerous. Extremely low blood sugar levels is termed as hypoglycemia, which is equally common in diabetics. Hence, maintaining the blood sugar levels within the normal range is essential.

Few ways to bring down the level of blood sugar quickly include,

  • Drink lot of water: Excess water dilutes the blood sugar and help to pass it out through urine. This way the sugar level drops down.
  • If suffering from kidney or heart problem avoid this solution and follow medical advice.
  • Exercise: Vigorous exercise increases heart rate. Increased heart rate for more than 15 minutes can increase the insulin response. This can help to bring down the level of blood sugar quickly.
  • High protein snack: Protein helps in stabilizing the sugar level. Always check the high protein snack is not high in sugar level. Cheese and almond can be a good option.
  • Insulin administration: Insulin helps in lowering down the sugar level quickly. Therefore a doctors advised dose can be taken. Never miss checking the sugar level after insulin administration, to prevent hypoglycemia.

All the above solutions prove to be very helpful to quickly bring down the sugar level. Always keep a handy snack when trying these tips to help, in case the sugar level dips too low.

Also Read:

Also Check: How Much Metformin Is Too Much


Things To Do If Your Blood Sugar Is Too High

Want to know how to lower blood sugar? Here are six things to do to combat with high blood pressure.

Blood sugar is a tricky little beast. Yes, you can get a high reading if you throw caution to the wind and eat several slices of cake at a wedding.

The problem is that you can also have a high blood sugar reading if you follow every rule in the type 2 diabetes handbook. That’s because it’s not just food that affects blood sugar. You could have a cold coming on, or stress may have temporarily boosted your blood sugar. The reading could be wrong, and you need to repeat it. Or it could mean that your medicine is no longer working, and it’s time to try a new one.

The point is, it’s the pattern that matters, not a single reading.

Whatever you do, don’t feel bad or guilty if you have a high blood sugar reading. A 2004 study found that blood sugar monitoring often amplifies feelings of being a “success” or “failure” at diabetes, and when readings are consistently high, it can trigger feelings of anxiety or self-blame.


This can cause some people to give up on testing completely. Try not to think of blood sugar monitoring as a “test” administered by a sour-faced teacher lurking in your distant past. Blood sugar monitoring is simply a tool that you can use to fight the disease. Here, six things you should know about how to lower your blood sugar when it’s way too high.

What Could Be The Worst Effects Of High Blood Sugar

How to bring down high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia)

If the condition of high blood sugar continues, then it might lead to blindness, degeneration of external organs, damage to kidney and blocking of a bile duct. It will lead to a slow and painful death.

Its a proven fact that consumption of all these will undoubtedly alter the blood sugar level. But, medication is the most vital part. Being in touch with the doctor and taking medicines on time has proved its worth in maintaining blood sugar level.

Read Also: Does Diabetes Make You Dizzy

How To Prevent Hyperglycaemia And Lower Your Blood Sugar Levels

Testing your blood sugar levels regularly can help you spot the signs of hyperglycaemia. But there are some steps you can take to either prevent a hyper from happening or to bring down your blood sugar levels.


You can start by making sure you are aware of your carbohydrate portions and how they may be affecting your blood sugar levels after eating. Carb countingis one of the ways you can manage this. Avoid foods that have a high glycemic index and choose low GI foods that can help manage your blood sugar levels more effectively. Increase the fibre in your diet. This can help slow down carbohydrate digestion, which can help limit the rise in your blood sugars.

Try to maintain a healthy weight as this promotes regular blood sugar levels in the body. Be as active as possible, regular exercise can help your body process more of the sugar.

Remember to take your insulin and other diabetes medication, and always take them correctly. Continue to take your diabetes medication even if you are ill and not eating.

Concentrate on your emotional wellbeing, get a quality nights sleep and find ways to manage your stress. Stress can cause hormones to be released, which keep your blood sugar levels high.

If your blood sugar levels continue to be high, or youre unsure of what to do, contact your doctor for further guidance.


Diabetic Hyperglycemic Hyperosmolar Syndrome

Hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome is a potentially life threatening condition involving extremely high blood sugar levels.

When your blood sugar gets too high, the kidneys try to compensate by removing some of the excess glucose through urination.

If you dont drink enough fluids to replace the fluid youre losing, your blood sugar levels spike. Your blood also becomes more concentrated. This can also occur if you drink too many sugary beverages.

This condition is called hyperosmolarity. Blood thats too concentrated begins to draw water out of other organs, including the brain.

Any illness that makes you dehydrated or reduces your insulin activity can lead to HHS. Its commonly a result of unmanaged or undiagnosed diabetes. An illness or infection can trigger HHS.


Failure to monitor and manage blood glucose levels can also lead to HHS.

Symptoms may develop slowly and increase over a period of days or weeks. Possible symptoms include:

  • fluids given through your veins to prevent or reverse dehydration
  • insulin to lower and stabilize your blood sugar levels
  • potassium, phosphate, or sodium replacement if necessary to help return your cells to their normal function

Treatment will also address any complications from HHS, such as shock or coma.

Factors that can increase your risk of complications with HHS include:

  • advanced age
  • severity of dehydration when youre treated
  • the presence of other illnesses when youre diagnosed

Take the following steps to help prevent HHS:


Read Also: Metformin Side Effects In Males

High Blood Sugar: 13 Reasons Your Glucose Levels Are Rising

May 2, 2021

Itâs a fact of life that blood sugar fluctuates throughout the day. These ups and downs depend on a handful of factors, like when you wake up, what you eat, the medications you take, and how you manage stress. So, some variation is normal, to the point that you might not even notice it.

Ignoring blood sugar level changes altogether, though, means youâre ignoring a valuable marker of your health. Especially if you start to have new or unfamiliar symptoms like fatigue, thirst, or brain fog . Learning these symptoms and their causes will give you the tools to better understand your own body, then take the right actions for better long-term metabolic health.

Is Hyperglycaemia Serious

What does it feel like when your blood sugar is too high ...

The aim of diabetes treatment is to keep blood sugar levels as near to normal as possible.

But if you have diabetes, no matter how careful you are, you’re likely to experience hyperglycaemia at some point.


It’s important to be able to recognise and treat hyperglycaemia, as it can lead to serious health problems if left untreated.

Occasional mild episodes are not usually a cause for concern and can be treated quite easily or may return to normal on their own.

But hyperglycaemia can be potentially dangerous if blood sugar levels become very high or stay high for long periods.

Very high blood sugar levels can cause life-threatening complications, such as:

  • diabetic ketoacidosis a condition caused by the body needing to break down fat as a source of energy, which can lead to a diabetic coma this tends to affect people with type 1 diabetes
  • hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state severe dehydration caused by the body trying to get rid of excess sugar this tends to affect people with type 2 diabetes

Regularly having high blood sugar levels for long periods of time can result in permanent damage to parts of the body such as the eyes, nerves, kidneys and blood vessels.


If you experience hyperglycaemia regularly, speak to your doctor or diabetes care team.

You may need to change your treatment or lifestyle to keep your blood sugar levels within a healthy range.

Read Also: Which Pancreatic Cells Release Insulin And Glucagon

Do Not Become Discouraged

Remember type 2 diabetes is a journey and a learning process. It is not a destination or a death sentence. For some individuals diabetes has been reversed, for others it stops in its tracks.

Every blood glucose reading is just another piece of data that you can use as helpful information in solving the puzzle of your condition. Remember, you arent in this alone! There are all kinds of resources and support available for you, this site being one of them.

Knowing your blood sugar levels is extremely important. Download our blood sugar charts to help eliminate any confusion. They contain both mg/dl and mmol/l, along with appropriate A1C levels.

Its a great resource to have on hand, plus there are some tips on how to deal with high readings.

Please share, pin, or tweet this post.

FREE DOWNLOAD

You May Like: Is Milk Bad For Type 2 Diabetes

Natural Treatment For High Blood Pressure

Preventing high blood pressure is key, however, there are natural treatment options available that could help to reduce your blood pressure.

Managing stress with meditation or deep-breathing exercises Quit smoking Eating more food rich in calcium and magnesium

Eating foods rich in potassium can help

In Addition to the options listed above, there are several natural supplements that may also help to lower blood pressure or prevent it from elevating, to begin with.

Berberine

Recommended Reading: Type 2 Diabetes And Bananas

What If It Goes Untreated

Hyperglycemia can be a serious problem if you don’t treat it, so it’s important to treat as soon as you detect it. If you fail to treat hyperglycemia, a condition called ketoacidosis could occur. Ketoacidosis develops when your body doesn’t have enough insulin. Without insulin, your body can’t use glucose for fuel, so your body breaks down fats to use for energy.

When your body breaks down fats, waste products called ketones are produced. Your body cannot tolerate large amounts of ketones and will try to get rid of them through the urine. Unfortunately, the body cannot release all the ketones and they build up in your blood, which can lead to ketoacidosis.

Ketoacidosis is life-threatening and needs immediate treatment. Symptoms include:

  • Shortness of breath

Talk to your doctor about how to handle this condition.

What Is High Blood Glucose

9 Signs Your Blood Sugar Is Too High

To fully understand your blood glucose levels, itâs important to know: a) what values are actually considered high, and b) factors that can cause your elevated reading in the first place.

High blood glucose, also known as hyperglycemia, occurs when there is too much sugar in the bloodstream. Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, is the result of too little glucose in the bloodstream. Hyperglycemia usually occurs because your body doesnât produce enough insulin or canât properly use the available insulin to remove the glucose from the bloodstream.

Using milligrams of glucose per deciliter of blood for measurement, high blood glucose readings after a meal indicating prediabetes can fall between 140 and 199 mg/dL. Levels reaching 200 mg/dL two hours after eating indicate you may already be insulin resistant or diabetic, though that diagnosis will need to come from your doctor. By comparison, the typical standard for normal glucose readings is to remain under 140 mg/dL throughout the day and under 100 mg/dL after eight hours of fasting.

A range of lifestyle factors, habits, and health conditions can cause high blood sugar. To debunk common hyperglycemia myths, review causes and symptoms, and discuss the best ways to address them, we spoke with two experts on high blood sugar levels: registered dietitian and For The Love of Diabetes creator Lori Zanini and registered dietitian nutritionist and diabetes management expert .

You May Like: Metformin Interactions With Other Drugs

Test Before You Eat And Two Hours After

This will tell you how well your medication is controlling your blood sugar. It will also shed light on what food is boosting your sugar too highand thus should be avoided. “You should consult your health-care provider to develop a plan that works for you,” says Donna Rice, immediate past president of the American Association of Diabetes Educators, who notes that the frequency and time of day you test will depend on how controlled your blood glucose is.

RELATED ARTICLES

Popular Articles