When controlling your diabetes, your blood glucose can become too high or too low. These conditions should be taken seriously. Fortunately, you can regain control of your blood glucose.
When too much sugar is in your blood, this condition is called hyperglycemia. Signs of high blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, include dry mouth, thirst, frequent urination, blurry vision, fatigue or drowsiness, and weight loss.
When you have high blood glucose, drink water or other sugar-free liquids. Check your blood glucose and stick to your diet plan. If your blood glucose remains high call your healthcare team. Your healthcare team will tell you what is considered high for you. If it is too high, you may need to go to the hospital.
Hypoglycemia occurs when too little glucose is present in your blood. Signs of low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, include: Sweating, shaking, nervousness, hunger, dizziness, faintness, pounding heart, personality change, confused thinking, impatience, crankiness, numbness of lips and tongue, headache, blurred vision, and slurred or slowed speech.
If not treated, low blood sugar can lead to fainting or seizures. Low blood sugar can happen quickly and be life-threatening.
If you have low blood glucose, immediately eat or drink something containing fast-acting glucose. Examples include any of the following: 3-4 glucose tablets, half a cup of fruit juice, 1/2 can of regular soda pop, 1-2 hard candies, or 2 teaspoons of sugar or honey.
If your symptoms do not disappear in 15 minutes or your blood glucose remains less than 4.4 mmol/l (80mg/dL), take another dose of fast-acting sugar. Repeat every 10 to 15 minutes until the blood glucose is greater than 4.4 mmol/l (80 mg/dL).
If it is less than 30 minutes until your next meal, eat that meal. If it is more than 30 minutes, eat a snack such as half a sandwich or 3 small cookies. Eat the meal or snack after you have taken a dose of fast-acting sugar. Do not subtract the snack from your next meal plan.
Do not drive or operate heavy equipment if you feel your blood glucose is low.
When too much sugar is in your blood, this condition is called hyperglycemia. Signs of high blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, include dry mouth, thirst, frequent urination, blurry vision, fatigue or drowsiness, and weight loss.
When you have high blood glucose, drink water or other sugar-free liquids. Check your blood glucose and stick to your diet plan. If your blood glucose remains high call your healthcare team. Your healthcare team will tell you what is considered high for you. If it is too high, you may need to go to the hospital.
Hypoglycemia occurs when too little glucose is present in your blood. Signs of low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, include: Sweating, shaking, nervousness, hunger, dizziness, faintness, pounding heart, personality change, confused thinking, impatience, crankiness, numbness of lips and tongue, headache, blurred vision, and slurred or slowed speech.
If not treated, low blood sugar can lead to fainting or seizures. Low blood sugar can happen quickly and be life-threatening.
If you have low blood glucose, immediately eat or drink something containing fast-acting glucose. Examples include any of the following: 3-4 glucose tablets, half a cup of fruit juice, 1/2 can of regular soda pop, 1-2 hard candies, or 2 teaspoons of sugar or honey.
If your symptoms do not disappear in 15 minutes or your blood glucose remains less than 4.4 mmol/l (80mg/dL), take another dose of fast-acting sugar. Repeat every 10 to 15 minutes until the blood glucose is greater than 4.4 mmol/l (80 mg/dL).
If it is less than 30 minutes until your next meal, eat that meal. If it is more than 30 minutes, eat a snack such as half a sandwich or 3 small cookies. Eat the meal or snack after you have taken a dose of fast-acting sugar. Do not subtract the snack from your next meal plan.
Do not drive or operate heavy equipment if you feel your blood glucose is low.
You should inform your family members and friends that you have diabetes and if they ever find you unconscious or not making sense, they should take you to a hospital immediately or call your medical emergency number.
When you control the level of glucose in your blood, the signs of diabetes become less frequent. You will feel better and have more energy. If you do not follow your diet, exercise, and perform blood glucose tests, serious complications can arise.
Complications of diabetes include damage to the nerves and blood vessels of the body.
Nerve damage is known as diabetic neuropathy. It usually involves the nerves going to the legs and feet. The feet or legs could feel numb or unusually cold. Non traumatic lower limb amputations can occur in people with uncontrolled diabetes.
People with diabetes who have poor sensation in their feet must be very careful to avoid damaging their feet with ill-fitting shoes, hot water, or other forms of injury.
Check your feet every day for cuts, sores, redness, or swelling. Use a mirror if needed. When visiting the clinic, ask your health care provider to check your feet.
Adults with diabetes have heart disease death rates 2 to 4 times higher than adults without diabetes. The risk of stroke is 2 to 4 times higher among people with diabetes.
High blood glucose can cause damage to large and small blood vessels. Fat in the blood is deposited on the walls of blood vessels. This causes hardening of the arteries or arteriosclerosis.
Hardening of the arteries can occur in arteries leaving or entering the heart. It can also occur in the legs. Your diet plan is designed to lower the level of fat and cholesterol in the blood.
The thickening of small blood vessels is most noticeable in the kidney and in the back of the eye. Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults
Diabetes may stop the kidneys from cleaning waste out of the blood.
Gum disease is more common in people with diabetes. Among young adults, those with diabetes have about twice the risk of gum disease as those without diabetes.
If you have diabetes and smoke, talk to your healthcare provider about smoking cessation support.
All healthcare providers feel that controlling your diabetes will help prevent damage to your blood vessels and nerves. Proper control of diabetes is a combination of a diet plan, medication, exercise, blood glucose monitoring, and good hygiene.
At JHAH, we are here for you not just when you are ill, but also to help you stay well. That is why we have a range of programs to help you create a healthier you.
We believe in providing help and support to achieve and maintain improved health and wellbeing, from programs that support you in achieving better health outcomes, to self-management guides for long-term health conditions. It is all part of our commitment to helping you live a healthier, happier life.
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