Diabetes-Related High and Low Blood Sugar Levels

Take steps to control your blood sugar level

Although high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) and low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) have very different symptoms and treatments, they are both caused by blood sugar and insulin imbalances. The steps you take to control your blood sugar level will help prevent both high and low blood sugar levels.

Be sure to have identification that says you have diabetes, such as a Reference medical alert bracelet Opens New Window Reference Opens New Window, with you at all times. This will help other people take steps to care for you if you are not able tell them about your medical condition.

You can take steps to prevent high and low blood sugar emergencies.

• Follow your treatment plan.
• Monitor your blood sugar levels regularly to detect early changes before an emergency develops. Treat your symptoms of high or low blood sugar quickly to prevent more problems.
• Control your stress to Reference Reference prevent your blood sugar level from increasing slowly over several days.
• Limit how much alcohol you drink. Do not drink alcohol if you have problems recognizing the early signs of low blood sugar.
• Take Reference precautions when you are driving and do not drive if your blood sugar is below 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL).

Monitoring and controlling blood sugar levels

Use Reference home blood sugar tests Opens New Window to determine whether your blood sugar is in your Reference target range. Work with your doctor to set your individual treatment goals. If you can consistently maintain this level of control, you will have very few blood sugar level emergencies.

Parents can help their Reference Reference child learn how to prevent low blood sugar levels and Reference Reference high blood sugar levels.

Control stress

No matter how skilled you are at monitoring and controlling your blood sugar levels, you are still at risk for high or low blood sugar levels that are brought on by stressful situations. Stress can affect your body's blood sugar levels in two ways:

• It changes the way your body uses Reference insulin Opens New Window, which is mostly a problem for people with Reference type 2 diabetes Opens New Window.
• It can cause you to change the way you take care of yourself, a problem for all people with diabetes.

Stress can be both mental and physical. Some examples of stress include an illness, a bad day at work, and a tough problem at home. When you are under stress, your blood sugar levels change. For more information, see the topic Reference Stress Management.

Blood sugar levels and exercise

You can keep your blood sugar levels under control when you exercise, so that you do not become too hungry or make your blood sugar level drop. There are two ways to keep your blood sugar levels under control:

1. At the meal before your planned exercise, you can take less insulin, OR
2. Before you exercise, eat some carbohydrate.

Keep a Reference quick-sugar food with you during exercise in case your blood sugar level drops low.

Vaccinations

Your doctor may recommend that you get vaccinations, such as a flu (What is a Reference PDF Opens New Window document?) vaccine or pneumococcal vaccine, to prevent you from those illnesses.

Other places to get help

The American Diabetes Association has a lot of information on diabetes and can link you to support groups. For more information, call 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or see the organization's website: www.diabetes.org/home.

© 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.