Blood Sugar Changes: Highs and Lows

High blood sugar and high blood glucose are also called hyperglycemia. Our bodies reach hyperglycemia when we don’t have enough insulin, or our bodies aren’t using the insulin correctly. High blood sugar can be caused by many things including, being sick with a cold or flu, eating too much, being stressed, and having diabetes.

Knowing the signs of hyperglycemia can help avoid serious complications. Some of the signs include frequent urination, increased thirst, tiredness, blurry vision, and sudden weight loss. If you develop the following symptoms, please seek medical help quickly: fruity-smelling breath, vomiting, confusion, or loss of consciousness.

Our Favorite Four Tips for hyperglycemia:

  1. Let your doctor know if you have any of the above symptoms
  2. Drink more water
  3. Increase your physical activity
  4. Use ketone strips to test your urine when your blood sugar is high

Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, can come on when you least expect it. People taking insulin or certain diabetes medications may be at higher risk for low blood sugar. It’s important to be prepared for hypoglycemia and share with your friends and family how to treat it in case you are unable to.

Hypoglycemia is marked as blood glucose below 70 mg/dL and can include symptoms such as confusion, headache, fatigue, irritability, and more. In more severe cases, hypoglycemia may cause you to lose consciousness. It’s important to be prepared and know how to treat hypoglycemia.

Our Favorite Four Tips for hypoglycemia:

  1. Have an emergency glucagon kit
  2. Teach your family and friends what to do in an emergency
  3. Consume 15 grams of carbs, such as hard candies, glucose tablets, or juice
  4. For severe cases, glucagon should be administered

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