Diabetes-Related High and Low Blood Sugar Levels

Manage your blood sugar level

When you have diabetes, whether it is Reference type 1 diabetes Opens New Window, Reference type 2 diabetes Opens New Window, or Reference gestational diabetes Opens New Window, one of the most important skills you will learn is how to manage your blood sugar level.

Following your doctor's instructions on the use of Reference insulin Opens New Window or diabetes medicines, diet, and exercise will help you avoid blood sugar problems. You will learn to recognize the symptoms and distinguish between Reference high and Reference low blood sugar levels. It may be hard for a parent of a young child to distinguish the Reference difference between high and low blood sugar symptoms in a child.

When you have learned to recognize high or low blood sugar levels, you can take the appropriate steps to bring your blood sugar level back to your Reference target blood sugar levels.

People who keep their blood sugar levels under control with diet, exercise, or oral diabetes medicines are less likely to have problems with high or low blood sugar levels. Do not drink alcohol if you have problems recognizing the early signs of low blood sugar.

Learn how to deal with high blood sugar levels

Be sure to know the Reference steps for dealing with high blood sugar and how fast your insulin medicine will work to bring your blood sugar down. Some insulins work very fast while regular insulin takes a little longer to bring the sugar level down. Knowing how fast your insulin works will keep you from using too much too quickly.

Learn how to deal with low blood sugar levels

Because you have diabetes and can have low blood sugar levels, you need to keep some type of food with you at all times that can quickly raise your blood sugar level. These should be quick-sugar foods (about 15 to 20 grams of carbohydrate) that puts glucose into your bloodstream in about 5 minutes. Any quick-sugar food on this list will raise your blood sugar about 30 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) in about 15 to 20 minutes. Be sure to check your blood sugar level again 15 minutes after eating a quick-sugar (carbohydrate) food to make sure your level is getting back to your target range. When your blood sugar gets to 70 mg/dL or higher, you can eat your normal meals and snacks.

It is important to know that sugar foods like a candy bar or ice cream do not help raise low blood sugar levels quickly, because these foods also have fat and protein. So the body can't use the sugar (carbohydrate) in these foods quickly to raise the blood sugar level.

You can get low blood sugar from using Reference Reference too much insulin or from other Reference Reference medicines you take.

Parents need to help their child Reference Reference learn to treat a low blood sugar level.

Pregnant women who have gestational diabetes also need to know Reference Reference how to deal with a low blood sugar level.

Since low blood sugar levels can quickly become a medical emergency, be sure to wear medical identification, such as a Reference medical alert bracelet Opens New Window Reference Opens New Window, to let people know you have diabetes so they can get help for you.

If you have severe symptoms of low blood sugar, someone else may need to give you a Reference shot of glucagon Opens New Window Reference Opens New Window. If this occurs, be sure to call your doctor immediately to let him or her know this has happened.

Symptoms to watch for during home treatment

Reference Call your doctor if any of the following occur during home treatment:

• Reference Symptoms of high blood sugar develop.
• Reference Symptoms of low blood sugar develop.
• Symptoms become more severe or frequent.

© 1995-2011, Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Reference Terms of Use. Reference How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.