High blood sugar (Hyperglycemia)
High blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, means that the amount of sugar in your bloodstream is higher than it should be. The signs of hyperglycemia include: blurry vision, headaches, having to pee a lot (called polyuria, which means increased urination), being very thirsty (called polydipsia, meaning increased thirst), eating a lot (called polyphagia, which means increased eating), irritability, tiredness and unexplained weight loss over a period of time. When you have diabetes, eating a bigger meal than usual; missing a dose of insulin; and being sick, inactive or stressed can cause your blood sugar to be high.
When your blood sugar is high:
- Drink lots of water and sugar-free fluids (limit fluids with sugar, including fruit juices)
- Follow your meal plan
- Take your insulin as prescribed by your doctor. If your blood sugar stays high, see your doctor or diabetes educator
- Check your blood sugar more often than usual
- If your blood sugar stays over 14 mmol/L, check your urine for ketones
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, can happen when there is too much insulin in your system, or if you have skipped a meal, not eaten enough or had too much activity without enough food to meet the needs of the exercise. The symptoms of hypoglycemia include feeling shaky, sweaty, weak, dizzy, irritable, extremely hungry and having a headache.
If you feel low:
- Check your blood sugar, if you can
- Take some type of fast-acting sugar, like:
- 15 g of glucose in the form of glucose tablets
- 15 mL (3 teaspoons) or 3 packets of table sugar dissolved in water
- 175 mL (3/4 cup) of juice or regular soft drink
- 6 Life Savers (1=2.5 g of carbohydrate)
- 15 mL (1 tablespoon) of honey
- If you don’t feel better in 10-15 minutes, it’s best to re-check and then have more sugar
Source: Canadian Diabetes Association (www.diabetes.ca)
