What are the common causes of high blood sugar levels. How can you recognize the symptoms of hyperglycemia. What are effective strategies for managing and treating elevated blood glucose.

Understanding High Blood Sugar (Hyperglycemia)

High blood sugar, medically known as hyperglycemia, occurs when glucose levels in the bloodstream become elevated above normal ranges. For individuals with diabetes, maintaining stable blood glucose is crucial for overall health and well-being. Let’s explore the causes, symptoms, and management of high blood sugar levels in detail.

What Exactly is High Blood Sugar?

Blood glucose refers to the concentration of sugar in the blood. Glucose serves as the primary energy source for cells throughout the body and is transported via the bloodstream. In cases of hyperglycemia, there’s an excess of glucose circulating in the blood, often due to the body’s inability to produce or properly utilize insulin.

For those with type 1 diabetes, the body cannot produce insulin. In type 2 diabetes, the body becomes resistant to insulin’s effects. Both scenarios lead to glucose accumulation in the blood, resulting in hyperglycemia.

Target Blood Sugar Ranges

Blood sugar levels are considered high when they exceed an individual’s target range. These targets are typically set by a diabetes healthcare team and may vary based on factors such as age, type of diabetes, and overall health status. Regular monitoring and staying within these prescribed ranges is essential for effective diabetes management.

Common Causes of Elevated Blood Sugar Levels

Managing diabetes requires a delicate balance between medication, diet, and physical activity. Disruptions in this balance can lead to hyperglycemia. Here are some common factors that can cause blood sugar levels to rise:

• Inadequate insulin or medication: Skipping doses or not taking the correct amount of diabetes medication
• Dietary inconsistencies: Consuming more carbohydrates than usual without adjusting medication
• Lack of physical activity: Insufficient exercise can lead to higher blood glucose levels
• Illness or infection: The body’s stress response during sickness can elevate blood sugar
• Emotional stress: Stress hormones can interfere with insulin’s effectiveness
• Certain medications: Some drugs, particularly corticosteroids, can affect blood glucose control

Understanding these potential triggers can help individuals with diabetes better manage their condition and prevent frequent hyperglycemic episodes.

Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms of High Blood Sugar

Identifying the symptoms of high blood sugar is crucial for prompt management. While a single elevated reading may not be cause for immediate alarm, persistent high levels can lead to health complications. Here are the key signs and symptoms to watch for:

Increased Urination (Polyuria)

When blood sugar levels are high, the kidneys work overtime to filter and flush out the excess glucose through urine. This leads to more frequent urination and often in larger volumes.

Excessive Thirst (Polydipsia)

The increased urination associated with hyperglycemia can result in dehydration, triggering intense thirst. Individuals may find themselves drinking more fluids than usual to compensate for the fluid loss.

Unexplained Weight Loss

In the absence of sufficient insulin to help cells utilize glucose for energy, the body may begin breaking down muscle and fat stores. This can lead to unexplained weight loss, even when appetite remains unchanged.

Fatigue and Weakness

When cells cannot effectively use glucose for energy due to insulin deficiency or resistance, it can result in feelings of tiredness and weakness.

Recognizing these symptoms early can help individuals take prompt action to address high blood sugar levels and prevent more serious complications.

Effective Strategies for Managing High Blood Sugar

Managing high blood sugar involves addressing the underlying causes and making necessary adjustments to treatment plans. Here are some effective strategies for bringing blood glucose levels back into a healthy range:

Medication Adherence

Consistently taking diabetes medications as prescribed is crucial. This may involve adjusting insulin doses or oral medication regimens under the guidance of a healthcare provider.

Dietary Modifications

Following a balanced meal plan that aligns with individual nutritional needs and glucose management goals is essential. This may include:

• Monitoring carbohydrate intake
• Choosing foods with a lower glycemic index
• Incorporating more fiber-rich foods
• Practicing portion control

Regular Physical Activity

Exercise can help lower blood sugar levels by improving insulin sensitivity. Engaging in regular physical activity, as recommended by a healthcare provider, can be an effective tool in managing hyperglycemia.

Stress Management

Implementing stress-reduction techniques such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, or yoga can help mitigate the impact of stress on blood sugar levels.

Frequent Blood Glucose Monitoring

Regular checking of blood sugar levels allows for timely identification of highs and lows, enabling prompt adjustments to management strategies.

By implementing these strategies and working closely with a diabetes care team, individuals can effectively manage high blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of associated complications.

The Importance of Preventing Chronic Hyperglycemia

While occasional spikes in blood sugar may not pose immediate threats, chronic hyperglycemia can lead to serious health complications over time. Understanding the potential long-term effects of persistently high blood sugar can motivate better diabetes management.

Potential Complications of Chronic High Blood Sugar

Prolonged exposure to elevated glucose levels can damage various body systems, potentially leading to:

• Cardiovascular disease: Increased risk of heart attacks and strokes
• Kidney damage (nephropathy): Potential progression to kidney failure
• Eye problems (retinopathy): Risk of vision loss or blindness
• Nerve damage (neuropathy): Can cause pain, numbness, or impaired function in extremities
• Slow wound healing: Increased risk of infections and complications

These complications typically develop over many years of poorly controlled diabetes. However, maintaining good blood sugar control can significantly reduce the risk of these health issues.

The Role of Regular Check-ups

Regular medical check-ups and screenings are crucial for early detection and prevention of diabetes-related complications. These may include:

• HbA1c tests to assess long-term blood sugar control
• Annual eye exams
• Kidney function tests
• Cardiovascular risk assessments

By staying proactive with these health screenings, individuals with diabetes can work with their healthcare team to address any emerging issues promptly and adjust their management strategies as needed.

Understanding and Preventing Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA)

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a serious complication that can occur in people with diabetes, particularly those with type 1 diabetes. It develops when the body doesn’t have enough insulin to allow glucose to enter cells for energy production.

What Causes DKA?

DKA can be triggered by various factors, including:

• Missed insulin doses
• Illness or infection that increases insulin requirements
• Severe dehydration
• Certain medications that affect glucose metabolism

Recognizing the Signs of DKA

Early recognition of DKA symptoms is crucial for prompt treatment. Signs may include:

• Excessive thirst and frequent urination
• Nausea and vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Fruity-scented breath
• Rapid breathing
• Confusion or difficulty concentrating

If these symptoms occur, especially in conjunction with consistently high blood sugar levels, immediate medical attention is necessary.

Preventing DKA

Strategies to prevent DKA include:

• Consistent adherence to insulin regimens
• Regular blood glucose monitoring
• Checking for ketones when blood sugar is consistently high
• Developing a sick-day management plan with a healthcare provider
• Staying hydrated, especially during illness

By understanding the risks and taking preventive measures, individuals with diabetes can significantly reduce their risk of developing this serious complication.

Empowering Diabetes Self-Management

Effective diabetes management goes beyond simply following a prescribed treatment plan. It involves becoming an active participant in one’s own care and developing the skills and knowledge necessary for day-to-day decision-making.

Education and Support

Diabetes education programs can provide valuable information and skills for managing the condition. These programs often cover topics such as:

• Blood glucose monitoring techniques
• Medication management
• Nutritional planning
• Exercise strategies
• Stress management
• Problem-solving skills for various diabetes-related situations

Participating in support groups or connecting with others who have diabetes can also provide emotional support and practical tips for living with the condition.

Leveraging Technology

Advancements in diabetes management technology can aid in better blood sugar control. Some helpful tools include:

• Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems
• Insulin pumps
• Smartphone apps for tracking glucose levels, diet, and exercise
• Digital platforms for connecting with healthcare providers

While these technologies can be valuable aids, it’s important to work with a healthcare provider to determine which tools are most appropriate for individual needs and to learn how to use them effectively.

Developing a Personalized Care Plan

Every individual with diabetes has unique needs and circumstances. Working closely with a diabetes care team to develop a personalized management plan is crucial. This plan should take into account factors such as:

• Individual glucose targets
• Lifestyle and daily routines
• Personal preferences and cultural considerations
• Coexisting health conditions
• Available resources and support systems

Regularly reviewing and adjusting this plan ensures that it remains effective and aligned with changing needs and goals.

By taking an active role in their care and utilizing available resources and support, individuals with diabetes can effectively manage their condition and maintain a high quality of life. Remember, successful diabetes management is a journey of continuous learning and adaptation.

When Blood Sugar Is Too High (for Teens)

If you have diabetes, you know that controlling blood sugar levels (or blood glucose levels) is important. You have to keep your levels steady. Having a blood sugar level that’s too high can make you feel lousy, and having it often can be unhealthy.

What Is High Blood Sugar?

The

blood glucose levelis the amount of glucose in the blood. Glucose is a sugar that comes from the foods we eat, and it’s also formed and stored inside the body. It’s the main source of energy for the cells of our body, and it’s carried to each cell through the bloodstream.

Hyperglycemia (pronounced: hi-per-gly-SEE-me-uh) is the medical word for high blood sugar levels. High blood sugar levels happen when the body either can’t make insulin (type 1 diabetes) or can’t respond to insulin properly (type 2 diabetes). The body needs insulin so glucose in the blood can enter the cells of the body where it can be used for energy. In people who have developed diabetes, glucose builds up in the blood, resulting in hyperglycemia.

Having too much sugar in the blood for long periods of time can cause serious health problems if it’s not treated. Hyperglycemia can damage the vessels that supply blood to vital organs, which can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke, kidney disease, vision problems, and nerve problems. These problems don’t usually show up in kids or teens who have had the disease for only a few years. But they can happen in adulthood in some people with diabetes, particularly if they haven’t managed or controlled their diabetes well.

Blood sugar levels are considered high when they’re above your target range. Your diabetes health care team will let you know what your target blood sugar levels are.

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What Causes High Blood Sugar Levels?

Managing diabetes is like a three-way balancing act because you have to watch:

1. the medicines you take (
   insulinor pills)
2. the food that you eat
3. the amount of exercise you get

All three need to be balanced. If any one of these is off, blood sugar levels can be too. In general, higher than normal blood glucose levels can be caused by:

• not taking your diabetes medicine when you’re supposed to or not taking the right amounts
• not following the meal plan (like eating too much on a special occasion without adjusting your diabetes medicines)
• not getting enough exercise
• having an illness, like the flu
• stress
• taking other kinds of medicines that affect how your diabetes medicines work

A single high blood sugar reading usually isn’t cause for alarm — it happens to everyone with diabetes from time to time. But if you have high blood sugar levels a lot, let your parents and your diabetes health care team know. Insulin or meal plans may need adjusting, or you may have an equipment issue, like an insulin pump that isn’t working right. Whatever the case, make sure you get help so you can get your blood sugar levels back under control.

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of High Blood Sugar Levels?

Signs of high blood sugar levels include:

• Peeing a lot: The kidneys respond by flushing out the extra glucose in urine. People with high blood sugar need to pee more often and in larger amounts.
• Drinking a lot: Someone losing so much fluid from peeing that often can get very thirsty.
• Losing weight even though your appetite has stayed the same: If there isn’t enough insulin to help the body use glucose, the body breaks down muscle and stored fat instead in an attempt to provide fuel to hungry cells.
• Feeling tired: Because the body can’t use glucose for energy properly, a person may feel unusually tired.

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How Are High Blood Sugar Levels Treated?

Treating high blood sugar levels involves fixing what caused them in the first place. Your diabetes health care team will give you specific advice on how to keep your blood sugar levels in a healthy range. But here are some ways to manage the common causes of high blood sugar levels:

Don’t worry too much if you get a high blood sugar reading occasionally. But if you have consistently high blood sugar levels, you should talk to your doctor about it.

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What Is Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA)?

When the body doesn’t have enough insulin, glucose stays in the blood and can’t get into the body’s cells to be used for energy. This can happen, for example, when someone skips doses of insulin or when the need for insulin suddenly increases (like when a person is sick with the flu) and the doses are not adjusted.

When the body can’t use glucose for fuel, it starts to use fat. When this happens, chemicals called ketones are released into the blood. Some of these ketones, like extra glucose, pass out of the body through the urine.

High levels of ketones in the blood can be a problem because they cause the blood to become acidic. Too much acid in the blood throws off the body’s chemical balance and causes the symptoms listed below. In people with diabetes, this problem is called diabetic
ketoacidosis (pronounced: kee-toe-as-ih-DOE-siss), or DKA. DKA is a very serious condition that can lead to coma or death if it’s not treated. The good news, though, is that it’s preventable and can be treated.

DKA happens more often in people with type 1 diabetes, but can sometimes also happen to those with type 2 diabetes.

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of DKA?

The symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis usually don’t develop all at once — they usually come on slowly over several hours. People who have DKA may:

• feel really tired
• feel really thirsty or pee way more than usual
• have a dry mouth and signs of dehydration

These symptoms are caused by the high blood sugar levels that usually happen before someone develops DKA. If the person doesn’t get treatment, these signs of DKA can happen:

• abdominal pain
• nausea and/or vomiting
• fruity breath odor
• rapid, deep breathing
• confusion
• unconsciousness (“diabetic coma”)

Checking for DKA

How do you know if you have DKA? Because the signs and symptoms of DKA can seem like the flu, it’s important to check blood sugar levels and urine (or blood) ketones when you’re sick or if you think you’re having symptoms of DKA.

Because high levels of ketones appear in the urine (as well as the blood), ketones can be checked at home by testing a sample of your pee. If the urine test for ketones is negative, it usually means your symptoms are not due to DKA.

Follow your diabetes management plan about when to check for ketones and what to do if the test is positive. In some cases, your diabetes management team may also have you use special blood test strips to check ketone levels in your blood too.

How Is DKA Treated?

DKA is very serious, but it can be treated if you go to the doctor or hospital right away. To feel better, a person with DKA needs to get insulin and fluids through a tube that goes into a vein in the body (an IV).

Let your parents or someone on your diabetes health care team know if you have any of these symptoms or are sick and don’t know what to do to take care of your diabetes.

Always wear a medical identification bracelet or necklace that says you have diabetes. Then, if you are not feeling well, whoever’s helping you will know to call for medical help. Medical identification can also include your doctor’s phone number or a parent’s phone number.

Avoiding High Blood Sugar and DKA

No matter how well they take care of themselves, people with diabetes will sometimes have high blood sugar levels. But the best way to avoid problems is to keep your blood sugar levels as close to your desired range as possible, which means following your diabetes management plan. Checking your blood sugar levels several times a day will let you know when your blood sugar level is high. Then you can treat it and help prevent DKA from happening.

High blood sugar levels don’t always cause symptoms, and a person who isn’t testing regularly might be having blood sugar levels high enough to damage the body without even realizing it. Doctors may use the HbA1c test to find out if someone has been having high blood sugar levels over time, even if the person has not had obvious symptoms.

Here are some other tips for avoiding high blood sugar levels and preventing DKA:

• Try to eat all your meals and snacks on time and not skip any.
• Take the right amount of insulin.
• Check your blood sugar levels regularly and your ketone levels when your diabetes management plan recommends it.
• Stick to your diabetes management plan.

Low Blood Glucose (Hypoglycemia) | NIDDK

On this page:

What is low blood glucose?

Low blood glucose, also called low blood sugar or hypoglycemia, occurs when the level of glucose in your blood drops below what is healthy for you. For many people with diabetes, this means a blood glucose reading lower than 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL).¹ Your number might be different, so check with your doctor or health care team to find out what blood glucose level is low for you.

How common is low blood glucose?

Low blood glucose is common among people with type 1 diabetes and among people with type 2 diabetes who take insulin or some other diabetes medicines. In a large global study of people with diabetes who take insulin, 4 in 5 people with type 1 diabetes and nearly half of those with type 2 diabetes reported a low blood sugar event at least once over a 4-week period.²

Severely low blood glucose, defined as when your blood glucose level drops so low you can’t treat it yourself, is less common. Among U.S. adults with diabetes who take insulin or some diabetes medicines that help the pancreas release insulin into the blood, 2 in 100 may develop severely low blood glucose each year.³

Who is more likely to develop low blood glucose?

You are more likely to develop low blood glucose if you⁴

What are the symptoms of low blood glucose?

Symptoms of low blood glucose tend to come on quickly and can vary from person to person. As Table 1 below shows, symptoms can range from mild to severe.

Table 1. Symptoms of low blood glucose⁶

Low blood glucose during sleep

Your blood glucose level can drop while you sleep and stay low for several hours, causing serious problems.⁷ Symptoms of low blood glucose while you sleep can include

• crying out or having nightmares
• sweating enough to make your pajamas or sheets damp
• feeling tired, irritable, or confused after waking up

Although you may not wake up or notice any symptoms, low blood glucose can interfere with your sleep, which may affect your quality of life, mood, and ability to work. Having low blood glucose during sleep can also make you less likely to notice and respond to symptoms of low blood glucose during the day.

What are the complications of low blood glucose?

Mild-to-moderate low blood glucose can be easily treated. But severely low blood glucose can cause serious complications, including passing out, coma, or death.

Repeated episodes of low blood glucose can lead to

• high blood glucose levels, if worry or fear of low blood glucose keeps you from taking the medicines you need to manage your diabetes⁸
• hypoglycemia unawareness, a condition in which you don’t notice any symptoms of low blood glucose until your blood glucose level has dropped very low

What causes low blood glucose in people with diabetes?

Low blood glucose levels can be a side effect of insulin or some other medicines that help your pancreas release insulin into your blood. Taking these can lower your blood glucose level.

Two types of diabetes pills can cause low blood glucose

• sulfonylureas, usually taken once or twice per day, which increase insulin over several hours
• meglitinides, taken before meals to promote a short-term increase in insulin

Insulin and some other diabetes medicines can lower your blood glucose level.

The following may also lower your blood glucose level

• Not eating or drinking enough carbohydrates (carbs). When you eat foods or drink beverages that contain carbohydrates, your digestive system breaks down the sugars and starches into glucose. Glucose then enters your bloodstream and raises your blood glucose level. If you don’t eat enough carbohydrates or skip or delay any meals, your blood glucose level could drop lower than what is healthy for you.
• Fasting. Continuing to take medicines that lower your glucose level while fasting for a medical procedure or for other purposes can also increase the risk for low blood glucose.
• Increasing physical activity. Increasing your physical activity level beyond your usual routine can lower your blood glucose level for up to 24 hours after the activity. Learn more about diabetes, eating, and physical activity.
• Drinking too much alcohol without enough food. Alcohol makes it harder for your body to keep your blood glucose level steady, especially if you haven’t eaten in a while. Alcohol can also keep you from feeling the first symptoms of low blood glucose, which can lead to severe symptoms.
• Being sick. When you’re sick, you may not be able to eat as much or keep food down, which can lower blood glucose.

How can I prevent low blood glucose if I have diabetes?

If you take insulin or other medicines that lower blood glucose, the following actions may help you prevent low blood glucose levels.

• Ask your doctor or health care team how to check your blood glucose level. The most common way to do so is by using a blood glucose meter. If you have hypoglycemia unawareness or have low blood glucose often, a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) may be a good option. The CGM measures your blood glucose level at regular times and can sound an alarm if it drops below your target range.
• Make sure your regular eating plan includes meals, snacks, and beverages with enough carbohydrates to help keep your blood glucose level in your target range. Carry a source of fast-acting carbohydrate, such as glucose tablets or a juice box, with you. Also, if you drink alcoholic beverages, it’s safer to eat some food at the same time.
• Be safe during exercise or physical activity. Physical activity can lower your blood glucose during the activity and for hours afterward. You may need to check your blood glucose before, during, and after physical activity and adjust your medicine or carbohydrate intake to prevent low blood glucose. For example, you might eat a snack before physical activity to prevent low blood glucose.
• Work with your doctor or health care team to prevent low blood glucose. Ask your team if any of your diabetes medicines can cause low blood glucose and how you can prevent and treat symptoms. Work with your doctor or health care team to adjust your diabetes management plan as needed.

Some CGMs let you track your blood glucose levels using a small sensor attached to your arm or abdomen and view the information on your smartphone.

How do I treat low blood glucose?

If you begin to feel one or more symptoms of low blood glucose, check your blood glucose level. If your blood glucose level is below your target or less than 70 mg/dL, follow these steps

1. Eat or drink 15 to 20 grams of glucose or carbohydrates right away. Examples include
   • four glucose tablets or one tube of glucose gel.
   • 1/2 cup (4 ounces) of fruit juice—not low-calorie or reduced-sugar juice. If you have kidney disease, don’t drink orange juice because it has a lot of potassium. Apple, grape, or cranberry juice are good options.
   • 1/2 can (4 to 6 ounces) of soda—not low-calorie or reduced-sugar soda.
   • 1 tablespoon of sugar, honey, or corn syrup.
2. Wait 15 minutes and check your blood glucose level again. If your glucose level is still low, eat or drink another 15 to 20 grams of glucose or carbohydrates.
3. Check your blood glucose level again after another 15 minutes. Repeat these steps until your glucose level is back to your target range.
4. If your next meal is more than 1 hour away, have a snack to keep your blood glucose level within a range that is healthy for you. Try crackers or a piece of fruit.

If your blood glucose is below your target, take 15 to 20 grams of glucose or carbohydrates right away.

Treating low blood glucose if you take medicines that slow down digestion

Some diabetes medicines slow down the digestion of carbohydrates to keep blood glucose levels from rising too high after you eat. If you develop low blood glucose while taking these medicines, you will need to take glucose tablets or glucose gel right away. Eating or drinking other sources of carbohydrates won’t raise your blood glucose level quickly enough.

What if I have severe low blood glucose and can’t treat myself?

Glucagon—a hormone that raises blood glucose levels—is the best way to treat severely low blood glucose. Available as an injection or a nasal spray, glucagon will quickly raise your blood glucose level. Your doctor can prescribe you a glucagon kit for use in case of an emergency.

If your blood glucose level drops very low, you won’t be able to treat it by yourself. Be prepared to address severely low blood glucose by

• talking with your doctor or health care team about when and how to use a glucagon emergency kit. If you have an emergency kit, regularly check the date on the package to make sure it hasn’t expired.
• teaching your family, friends, and coworkers when and how to give you glucagon. Tell them to call 911 right away after giving you glucagon or if you don’t have a glucagon emergency kit with you.
• wearing a medical alert identification bracelet or pendant. A medical alert ID tells other people that you have diabetes and need care right away. Getting prompt care can help prevent the serious problems that low blood glucose levels can cause.

Clinical Trials for Low Blood Glucose

The NIDDK conducts and supports clinical trials in many diseases and conditions, including diabetes. The trials look to find new ways to prevent, detect, or treat disease and improve quality of life.

What are clinical trials for low blood glucose?

Clinical trials—and other types of clinical studies—are part of medical research and involve people like you. When you volunteer to take part in a clinical study, you help doctors and researchers learn more about disease and improve health care for people in the future.

Researchers are studying many aspects of low blood glucose levels in diabetes, such as

• how to diagnose and treat low blood glucose among people with diabetes
• medicines that can treat symptoms of low blood glucose in people with hypoglycemia unawareness
• educational approaches to reduce fear of low blood glucose, which can make it harder for you to control your diabetes

Find out if clinical studies are right for you.

Watch a video of NIDDK Director Dr. Griffin P. Rodgers explaining the importance of participating in clinical trials.

What clinical studies for low blood glucose are looking for participants?

You can view a filtered list of clinical studies on low blood glucose that are federally funded, open, and recruiting at www.ClinicalTrials.gov. You can expand or narrow the list to include clinical studies from industry, universities, and individuals; however, the National Institutes of Health does not review these studies and cannot ensure they are safe. Always talk with your health care provider before you participate in a clinical study.

References

[1] American Diabetes Association. 6. Glycemic targets: standards of medical care in diabetes—2021. Diabetes Care. 2021;44(suppl 1):S73–S84. doi: 10.2337/dc21-S006

[2] Khunti K, Alsifri S, Aronson R, et al. Rates and predictors of hypoglycaemia in 27,585 people from 24 countries with insulin-treated type 1 and type 2 diabetes: the global HAT study. Diabetes, Obesity, & Metabolism. 2016;18(9):907–915. doi: 10.1111/dom.12689

[3] Karter AJ, Lipska KJ, O’Connor PJ, et al. High rates of severe hypoglycemia among African American patients with diabetes: the surveillance, prevention, and management of diabetes mellitus (SUPREME-DM) network. Journal of Diabetes and Its Complications. 2017;31(5):869–873. doi: 10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2017.02.009

[4] Silbert R, Salcido-Montenegro A, Rodriguez-Gutierrez R, Katabi A, McCoy RG. Hypoglycemia among patients with type 2 diabetes: epidemiology, risk factors, and prevention strategies. Current Diabetes Reports. 2018;18(8):53. doi: 10.1007/s11892-018-1018-0

[5] American Diabetes Association. 12. Older adults: standards of medical care in diabetes—2021. Diabetes Care. 2021;44(suppl 1):S168–S179. doi: 10.2337/dc21-S012

[6] Masharani U. Diabetes mellitus & hypoglycemia. In: Papadakis MA, McPhee SJ, eds. Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment. McGraw Hill; 2018:1222–1268.

[7] Graveling AJ, Frier BM. The risks of nocturnal hypoglycaemia in insulin-treated diabetes. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice. 2017;133:30–39. doi: 10.1016/j.diabres.2017.08.012

[8] Diabetes Canada Clinical Practice Guidelines Expert Committee, Yale JF, Paty B, Senior PA. Hypoglycemia. Canadian Journal of Diabetes. 2018;42(suppl 1):S104–S108. doi: 10.1016/j.jcjd.2017.10.010

High and Low Blood Sugar Symptoms

Knowing and understanding the symptoms of high and low blood sugar should be essential for both diabetics and their friends and families.

Symptoms of high blood sugar

Hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar, is common amongst diabetics.

It occurs when a diabetic person eats too much food, and has too little insulin to regulate their blood sugar. Sometimes stress can cause diabetes.

Being aware of the following symptoms and staying alert for their presence, whether you are a diabetic or a family member or friend, should be essential:

• Need for frequent urination
• Drowsiness
• Nausea
• Extreme hunger and/or thirst
• Blurring of the vision

Symptoms of low blood sugar

Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, occurs when a diabetic has not eaten enough food, or has too much insulin within his or her body.

An excessive amount of exercise can also cause low blood sugar levels.

Be aware of low blood sugar symptoms

Being aware of the following symptoms and staying alert for their presence, whether you are a diabetic or a family member or friend, should be essential:

• Shaking
• Fast heartbeat
• Sweating
• Anxiety
• Dizziness
• Extreme hunger
• Weakness and tiredness
• Irritability

Why do these symptoms matter for diabetics?

These symptoms are essential for diabetics to understand, because they may encounter high or low blood sugar levels from time to time.

A cold or virus can cause sudden high blood sugar levels, and understand the symptoms means knowing how to deal with hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia.

People with diabetes who can recognise the symptoms can avoid levels that lead to medical emergencies such as diabetic ketoacidosis

Knowing your high and low blood sugar symptoms allows you to test

Once you understand symptoms of high and low blood sugar, it is possible to test quickly and avoid serious problems.

Keeping to a clear target range is one of the key goals of diabetes management, and knowing when you have the symptoms of high or low blood sugar levels allows you to test your blood sugar and make a correction.

Transcript

It can be important to recognise the difference between low and high blood sugar symptoms. Being able to spot when you’re high or low and sugar can help you to manage your diabetes.

Where possible, it’s best to check with your blood glucose meter, whether you are high or low, before taking any remedial action. If blood sugar is regularly high you may get recurrent episodes of thrush.

High blood sugar is serious and can result in nausea, vomiting or loss of consciousness. In type 2 diabetes, this can in the form of a condition called Hyperosmolar Hyperglycaemic State and in type 1 diabetes in the form of ketoacidosis.

It is important to seek emergency medical help.

Very low blood sugar can lead to convulsions and unconsciousness. It is important to seek emergency help if the person with diabetes is unable to bring their sugar levels back to normal.

The University of Birmingham’s Medical School states that if the body becomes used to being low on sugar, hypo symptoms can become less noticeable. Loss of symptoms of low blood sugar in particular can be dangerous.

If you have difficulty recognising the symptoms of hypoglycemia, speak to your doctor.

Download a FREE symptoms chart for your phone, desktop or as a printout.

Hyperglycemia (High Blood Sugar): Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

• Hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar, causes symptoms like increased thirst and urination. 
• Hyperglycemia is typically caused by diabetes, stress, or some steroid medications. 
• To treat hyperglycemia, adjust your insulin dose, try exercise, and discontinue steroids.  
• Visit Insider’s Health Reference library for more advice.

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Hyperglycemia is when you have elevated blood sugar. Before a meal, or when you have not eaten in several hours, high blood sugar is defined as 130 mg/dL. Two hours after eating, hyperglycemia is when blood sugar levels are above 180 mg/dL.

By comparison, normal blood sugar levels are generally between 80 mg/dL and 130 mg/dL. Hyperglycemia is most common for people with

diabetes
, and essentially, it describes the high blood sugars that define the chronic condition. 

In some cases, hyperglycemia can also occur as a result of stress or as a side effect of steroid medication. Here’s how you can recognize the signs of high blood sugar and lower it quickly. 

Signs and symptoms 

The most common symptoms of hyperglycemia include:

• Increased thirst
• Drinking liquids more frequently
• Urinating more frequently
• Blurry vision
• Weight loss

However, the only way to know for sure if you have hyperglycemia is with a blood draw, says Jordan Messler, MD, a hospitalist at Morton Plant Hospitalist group in Clearwater, Florida. This can confirm that your blood sugar levels are elevated, and by how much. In fact, symptoms often won’t become severe until blood sugars rise above 200 mg/dL. 

If left untreated, hyperglycemia can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) within 24 hours in some cases. This condition, most common in people with

type 1 diabetes
, occurs when the body is not able to break down sugar properly for fuel, so it breaks down fats instead, Messler says. This naturally releases acids into the blood, and because the body cannot flush the acid quickly enough, it becomes toxic in the blood. 

DKA is a medical emergency, and people with the following symptoms should visit the emergency room, especially if they have diabetes, Messler says:

• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Dry mouth
• Abdominal pain

Causes 

Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can cause hyperglycemia. But there are also other potential causes, like stress or steroid medications. 

Diabetes

People with diabetes are not able to process blood sugar effectively, either because they do not produce insulin, the hormone that breaks down blood sugar (type 1), or because their body does not utilize insulin effectively (type 2). 

Since the body cannot break down blood sugar, it builds in the bloodstream and is more likely to cause high blood glucose levels, or hyperglycemia.  

Hyperglycemia can also occur occasionally in people who are being treated for diabetes. These spikes in blood sugar levels can be caused by:

• Eating too much
• Not exercising enough
• Giving yourself too little insulin or medication
• The dawn phenomenon, or a surge in hormones during the early morning that can spike blood sugar
• Stress or illness

Stress

Even people without diabetes can get hyperglycemia. For example, stress can cause insulin resistance — a condition where your body doesn’t utilize insulin effectively. 

At the same time, the stress hormone cortisol encourages the release of hepatic glucose, or glucose stored in the liver, which further raises blood sugar. This so-called “stress hyperglycemia” can occur during acute medical situations, such as an infection or heart attack, Messler says. 

Steroids

Steroids, like Prednisone and methylprednisolone, can also cause hyperglycemia in up to 46% of patients without diabetes, but this usually resolves when the medication is stopped.  

Like the effect of stress, these medications also increase hepatic glucose release and increase insulin resistance, and can cause hyperglycemia even if you don’t have diabetes. 

Treatment 

The goal of treatment for hyperglycemia is to lower blood sugar. For people with diabetes, this could mean adjusting your insulin dose, or following a plan that you and your doctor have created ahead of time for when you experience hyperglycemia. 

Related

5 of the best foods to lower blood sugar and manage diabetes

People who have chronic hyperglycemia caused by diabetes should also work to lower their blood sugar over time, in addition to treating individual episodes of hyperglycemia. 

“The best ways to begin lowering blood glucose, for someone who has diabetes, is through lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise,” Messler says.  

People with type 1 diabetes will need insulin to lower blood sugar levels, while type 2 diabetics are often treated with oral medication like metformin, and possibly insulin as well, Messler says. 

However, for people with stress or steroid-induced hyperglycemia, the condition usually resolves on its own, as soon as the stress dissipates, or about four to six hours after the medication is discontinued.  

If hyperglycemia persists after the underlying health condition is addressed, the patient may be diagnosed with diabetes, Messler says. 

Insider’s takeaway 

Hyperglycemia is a serious condition, especially if left untreated. Since it can only be diagnosed by measuring blood sugar, it’s important to talk to your doctor if you’re concerned about hyperglycemia. 

“If you are suffering from symptoms of increased thirst and frequent urination with

weight loss
, then you should discuss with your doctor and check your blood sugar,” Messler says.  

He also recommends that people who have risk factors for diabetes — including being overweight, having a family history of diabetes, or being older than 45 — have their blood sugar levels checked regularly. 

Diabetes Complications

If you have diabetes, you may be at risk of developing diabetes-related complications.

Complications of diabetes on this page:

Short-Term Complications of Diabetes

The most common short-term complications of diabetes are:

• Hypoglycemia — blood glucose that’s too low.
• Hyperglycemia — blood glucose that’s too high.

Hypoglycemia

Low blood glucose is called hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia occurs when the blood glucose level goes below 70 mg/dL.

Several things can cause this condition, including:

• Too much insulin
• Too much medication
• Not enough food in your system
• Too much exercise

Symptoms of hypoglycemia include:

• Confusion
• Increased hunger
• Nervousness
• Seizures
• Shaking
• Sweating
• Weakness
• Coma, in the worst of cases

Hyperglycemia

The opposite of hypoglycemia is hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia happens when your blood glucose goes above normal.

Symptoms of hyperglycemia include:

• Blurred vision or extreme tiredness
• Frequent urination or dehydration
• Increased thirst or hunger
• Nausea or vomiting
• Rapid or deep breathing
• Sweet or fruity smell on your breath

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High Blood Glucose with Ketones

DKA is the short name for diabetic ketoacidosis.

Usually only affecting people with type 1 diabetes, DKA occurs when the body does not have enough insulin to change sugar into energy. When there’s not enough insulin, glucose stays in the blood and cannot be used for fuel.

Since the body still needs fuel for energy, it must then ;burn body fat instead.

When the body burns fat, it forms waste products called ketones, which build up in the blood and come out in the urine.

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High Blood Glucose without Ketones

HHNS is a condition of high blood glucose that usually occurs only in people with type 2 diabetes. HHNS is short for hyperglycemic hyperosmolar non-ketotic syndrome.

In some ways, HHNS is like DKA in people with type 1 diabetes. The difference is that people with type 2 diabetes rarely get ketones in their blood.

For people who have type 2 diabetes, their pancreas still makes some insulin. Even a small amount of insulin can change glucose into energy.

The body uses the sugar first before it has to use fat for fuel, so it rarely produces ketones.

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Long-Term Complications of Diabetes

Heart Problems

Heart disease is a very common problem linked to diabetes, especially for people with type 2 diabetes.

High blood glucose and cholesterol levels can cause the blood vessels to narrow and clog.

Clogged blood vessels make it difficult for blood to reach all parts of the body. This can result in high blood pressure and increase your risk of heart attack or stroke.

To reduce your risk of heart disease:

• Eliminate high amounts of fat and cholesterol from your diet.
• Maintain good control of your blood glucose and blood pressure.
• Do not smoke.
• Work with a dietician, diabetes educator, or health care provider to develop a weight loss and physical activity plan.

Eye Problems

One of the most serious eye complications caused by diabetes is called diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy occurs when diabetes damages the retina, the light sensitive tissue in the back of the eye.

Several factors influence the likelihood of developing retinopathy, including:

• High blood glucose
• High blood pressure
• Genetics
• How long you have had diabetes

If you have had diabetes for many years, you may be at a higher risk of developing diabetic retinopathy.

Sometimes the retina can be damaged before any symptoms are noticed. Early detection is the key to preventing blindness caused by diabetic retinopathy.

Signs of diabetic retinopathy include:

• Blurry vision
• A dark empty spot that locks your vision
• Difficulty adjusting from bright to dim light
• Floaters and flashes
• Poor night vision
• Sudden loss of vision

To reduce your risk of developing diabetic retinopathy:

• Maintain good control of your blood glucose and blood pressure.
• Visit your eye doctor at least once a year for a dilated eye exam.

Nerve Damage

High blood glucose can cause nerve damage, a condition known as neuropathy.

Neuropathy can affect your:

• Bladder
• Heart
• Intestines
• Stomach
• Sexual organs

Neuropathy also can cause you to lose all feeling in your feet, and you can hurt your feet without knowing it. Foot sores can become serious very fast and are hard to heal.

Signs of neuropathy include:

• Difficulty controlling bladder or bowel movements
• Pain or tingling in your feet or hands
• Problems digesting food
• Problems with sexual function

To reduce your neuropathy risk:

• Ask your doctor to check your feet.
• Check your feet routinely at home and report any problems to your doctor immediately.
• Maintain good control of your blood glucose.

Kidney Problems

High blood glucose can damage the blood vessels in the kidneys and can cause kidney problems, called nephropathy.

The blood vessels in the kidneys act as a filter to dispose of waste products in the body.

For people with diabetes who have high blood glucose, the kidneys have to work harder to dispose of waste. Over time, this extra work can damage your kidneys

If this happens, you may need to take medication or have medical treatments, such as kidney dialysis or a kidney transplant.

When diagnosed early, there are several treatments that can prevent kidney disease from getting worse.

To reduce your risk of kidney disease:

• Maintain good control of your blood glucose and blood pressure.
• See your doctor regularly.

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How to Avoid Complications of Diabetes

The best ways to avoid diabetes complications are to:

• Take an active role in managing your disease.
• Maintain good blood glucose levels.
• Visit your health care professional regularly.

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Dawn Phenomenon and the Somogyi Effect | CS Mott Children’s Hospital

Overview

The dawn phenomenon and the Somogyi effect cause high blood sugar levels, especially in the morning before breakfast, in people who have diabetes.

Dawn phenomenon

The dawn phenomenon is a normal rise in blood sugar as a person’s body prepares to wake up.

• In the early morning hours, hormones (growth hormone, cortisol, and catecholamines) cause the liver to release large amounts of sugar into the bloodstream. For most people, the body produces insulin to control the rise in blood sugar.
• If the body doesn’t produce enough insulin, blood sugar levels can rise. This may cause high blood sugar in the morning (before eating).

Somogyi effect

If the blood sugar level drops too low in the early morning hours, hormones (such as growth hormone, cortisol, and catecholamines) are released. These help reverse the low blood sugar level but may lead to blood sugar levels that are higher than normal in the morning. An example of the Somogyi effect is:

• A person who takes insulin doesn’t eat a regular bedtime snack, and the person’s blood sugar level drops during the night.
• The person’s body responds to the low blood sugar by releasing hormones that raise the blood sugar level. This may cause a high blood sugar level in the early morning.

How can you tell the difference?

The Somogyi effect can occur any time you or your child has extra insulin in the body. To sort out whether an early morning high blood sugar level is caused by the dawn phenomenon or Somogyi effect, check blood sugar levels at bedtime, around 2 a.m. to 3 a.m., and at your normal wake-up time for several nights. A continuous glucose monitor could also be used throughout the night.

• If the blood sugar level is low at 2 a.m. to 3 a.m., suspect the Somogyi effect.
• If the blood sugar level is normal or high at 2 a.m. to 3 a.m., it’s likely the dawn phenomenon.

Credits

Current as of:
August 31, 2020

Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
E. Gregory Thompson MD – Internal Medicine
Adam Husney MD – Family Medicine
Kathleen Romito MD – Family Medicine
Rhonda O’Brien MS, RD, CDE – Certified Diabetes Educator

Current as of: August 31, 2020

Author:
Healthwise Staff

Medical Review:E. Gregory Thompson MD – Internal Medicine & Adam Husney MD – Family Medicine & Kathleen Romito MD – Family Medicine & Rhonda O’Brien MS, RD, CDE – Certified Diabetes Educator

Women: How Controlling Blood Sugar Benefits Your Heart

When most people hear the term “blood sugar,” the disease that generally comes to mind is diabetes, not heart disease.

However, according to a Johns Hopkins study, type 1 and type 2 diabetes are some of the most harmful risk factors for cardiovascular disease, says Johns Hopkins cardiologist Bill McEvoy, M.B., B.Ch.

Keeping your blood sugar (as well as blood pressure and cholesterol levels) under control is, therefore, one of the best things you can do for your heart.

“A large proportion of diabetes patients have no symptoms, but diabetes, particularly when poorly controlled, is already harming their blood vessels and leading to hardening of the arteries, which is what leads to heart disease,” says McEvoy. In some cases, patients don’t even realize that they have diabetes until the disease progresses to the point where they have a heart attack, he says.

That’s why it’s important to be aware of your blood glucose numbers, along with monitoring your overall weight and body fat.

If Your Blood Sugar Is High

Losing weight is the best way to get high blood sugar under control. “Food is energy,” McEvoy explains. “If what goes in doesn’t get burned off, it accumulates on your body. This leads to a buildup of fat, particularly in the abdomen, which can cause diabetes.” Two effective tactics for helping lose extra pounds and prevent diabetes:

• limiting your carbohydrate and sugar intake.
• doing heart-pumping, heavy-breathing aerobic exercise.

If you’re just getting started with diet changes and exercise, work with your doctor to come up with a combined plan that’s best for your needs. Be sure to get your blood glucose levels monitored as recommended.

“We can often cure type 2 (or adult-onset) diabetes before you need insulin, with weight loss and changes in lifestyle. It’s reversible, especially when your glucose levels are in the mild range,” McEvoy says. “If your glucose levels are above normal, consider it a wake-up call.”

If You’re a Woman

Anyone with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes faces an elevated risk of heart attack and other cardiovascular problems, but women who are younger than 60—a group often thought of as having a lower danger of heart problems—have up to four times the risk of heart disease when they have type 2 diabetes, recent Johns Hopkins research shows.

That’s why women with high blood glucose levels should take the condition particularly seriously. Adults with poorly controlled diabetes are never too young to have a heart attack or stroke, McEvoy says.

90,000 Symptoms and signs of diabetes

What are the symptoms and signs of diabetes mellitus?

²

Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes can develop unexpectedly and cause symptoms such as:

• Abnormal thirst and dry mouth
• Frequent urination
• Nocturnal urinary incontinence
• Lack of energy and extreme fatigue
• Constant hunger
• Sudden weight loss
• Blurred vision

Type 1 diabetes is diagnosed when these symptoms are combined with a test showing high blood glucose.

Type 2 diabetes

The symptoms of type 2 diabetes are as follows:

• Frequent urination
• Excessive Thirst
• Extremely severe hunger
• Blurred vision
• Lack of energy and extreme fatigue
• Numbness and tingling in hands and feet
• Slow wound healing and recurrent infections

Many people with type 2 diabetes are unaware of their condition for a long time because the symptoms of the disease are usually not as obvious as the symptoms of type 1 diabetes, and it can take years before a diagnosis is made.

How is diabetes diagnosed?

There are several ways to diagnose diabetes. The following blood tests are commonly used to diagnose diabetes ³ :

• Glycated hemoglobin assay (HbA1c). Measures the average blood sugar level over the past 2-3 months. You don’t need to starve or drink anything special to perform this test.
• Fasting plasma glucose analysis. Tests fasting glucose levels.To do this, you must not eat or drink anything other than water for 8 hours, usually at night, before testing. The analysis is usually scheduled in the morning, before breakfast.
• Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Tests your body’s response to a sugar load. For this analysis, you need to drink a special sweet drink. Blood sugar is measured before and after you drink the drink.
• Anytime Plasma Glucose Measurement (TPG). Checks your blood sugar at a specific point in time, at any time of the day, without prior preparation for the test. This test is usually done when you have obvious symptoms of diabetes, such as unexpected weight loss, extreme fatigue, and / or other signs of diabetes.

² IDF Diabetes Atlas (Edition 8) (2017). International Diabetes Federation: Brussels, Belgium. Online version May 5, 2018 at http://diabetesatlas.org/IDF_Diabetes_Atlas_8e_interactive_EN/

³ American Diabetes Association.(ADA) Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes – 2018. Diabetes Care 2018; 41, Suppl. 1. Online version May 6, 2018 at http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/diacare/suppl/2017/12/08/41.Supplement_1.DC1/DC_41_S1_Combined.pdf

90,000 Diabetes mellitus in men, signs of diabetes mellitus in men

Symptoms of diabetes mellitus in men

Diabetes mellitus in men develops less frequently. But the progression of chronic complications of diabetes mellitus in men (polyneuropathy, nephropathy, retinopathy, macroangiopathy) occurs at a faster pace. The aforementioned complications are more severe, due to the high prevalence of smoking among men.

Symptoms of diabetes mellitus in men are basically the same as in women. It should only be added that the main disorders in men associated with diabetes mellitus can affect various organs and systems that are less affected in women.
First of all, symptoms of diabetes mellitus in men n are manifested in relation to sexual function.Potency in diabetes mellitus decreases sharply. This is due to the development of angiopathy. Blood is supplied to the genitals in limited quantities. The high content of ketone bodies in the patient’s blood contributes to the suppression of testosterone production. This leads to the fact that the potency in diabetes mellitus in men decreases and other signs of this disease begin to appear more strongly.

Signs of diabetes in men:
– weak erection or complete impotence;
– decreased libido;
– early / premature ejaculation;
– delayed ejaculation;
– lack of orgasm;
– decrease in the quantity and quality of sperm;
– the development of infertility.
The main mechanisms for the development of signs of damage to the reproductive system in men with diabetes mellitus are angiopathy (damage to the vessels that fill the penis with blood), neuropathy (damage to the nerves that control this process) and a decrease in the production of the main male sex hormone – testosterone. The reason is a chronic (long-term) increase in blood sugar levels. A man who has one of the above problems should urgently seek medical help from an endocrinologist, especially if this is a combination of several signs or they are repeated many times.

Diabetes mellitus in men video

Diabetes mellitus in men treatment

A man should take care of reducing body weight and increasing physical activity, strict control of blood sugar levels. Medicines that improve blood flow can also be helpful in increasing potency in diabetes mellitus.

In any case, in order to prevent the development of this unpleasant complication or when signs of decreased potency appear, a man should consult a qualified endocrinologist for medical help.

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90,000 low blood sugar diabetes

low blood sugar diabetes

Diafast (Diafast) – hypoglycemic agent containing extracts of medicinal plants, trace elements and vitamins. The components included in the drug not only normalize the blood sugar level, but also improve the well-being of the diabetic, and reduce the risk of disease progression.

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Hypoglycemia is diagnosed biochemically when blood glucose levels are below 70 mg / dL, most often in patients treated with insulin or sulfonylurea. Predisposed groups: patients with long-term type 1 diabetes, poorly aware of hypoglycemia; patients with pancreatic diabetes and complicated autonomic neuropathy of the gastrointestinal tract.The best method of glycemic control with the ability to quickly respond to a hypoglycemic trend is continuous subcutaneous monitoring systems. Hypoglycemia is a rather narrow topic related to diabetes mellitus. However, it is still unrealistic to fully cover diabetes mellitus in one article. That’s why. If your blood sugar is less than 3.3 mmol / L, use 10 g of glucose, for example in the form of 100 ml of orange juice and several crackers. In general, each patient should have a piece of sugar or candy hidden in his bosom and a document certifying that its owner has diabetes.In case of severe hypoglycemia, patients should have glucagon, a physiological insulin antagonist, with them, and their relatives should be able to inject it in a dose of 1 mg subcutaneously (I just don’t know if anyone has seen this drug with their own eyes). When glucose levels are low, brain cells are the first to suffer. This dangerous condition requires immediate action to prevent the development of severe consequences: loss of consciousness and the development of hypoglycemic coma. Symptoms of hypoglycemia should be known both to diabetics themselves and to their loved ones, in order to take timely measures to relieve the condition.When measuring blood sugar, it is important that the meter being used is accurate in the low blood glucose range in order to timely detect a hypoglycemic condition. When glucose levels drop too low, the body does not have enough energy to function properly. This condition is called hypoglycemia. This condition is more common in people with diabetes, but it can happen for other reasons. In people without diabetes, hypoglycemia can be the result of the body producing too much insulin after a meal, causing blood sugar levels to drop.This is called reactive hypoglycemia. If your insulin levels are too high, your blood sugar levels will drop. Hypoglycemia is multifaceted, but each person has a different set of symptoms, and most patients feel it well. In addition, malnutrition may be the cause of low blood sugar in a woman. The fetus consumes a fairly large amount of glucose. If the consumption is not compensated by food, the concentration of sugars in the internal environment decreases. In people without diabetes, insulinoma, a hormone-producing tumor of the pancreas, becomes the cause of hypoglycemia.At the same time, the concentration of insulin in the body increases, the sugar content decreases. Sometimes a drop in glucose levels occurs during extreme starvation, when the body is unable to compensate for the lack of carbohydrates at the expense of internal reserves. Brief conclusions. Decreased blood sugar – hypoglycemia. Causes of hypoglycemia: the role of diabetes and other pathological conditions and diseases. Symptoms of hypoglycemia, depending on its severity, signs of complications that require attention.Read more in Stoletnik. Hypoglycemia: Causes, Symptoms and Signs of Complications of Low Blood Sugar Levels (Part I). Centenary | 12/04/2020. Each cell of the body needs energy, otherwise their functioning is impossible. Glucose is the main source of energy, and insulin helps cells absorb and use it. How do you know when your blood sugar is too low? It is very important to learn to trust your body, because it can give the alarm signals necessary to prevent an attack of hypoglycemia.Recognizing these signals is essential to minimize the risk of episodes of severe hypoglycemia and long-term complications in the future. It may seem daunting at first, but once you learn to recognize the signs and signals your body is giving you, you can better navigate what is going on inside. The term hypoglycemia literally means low blood sugar (glucose). There is no single definition of hypoglycemia. In persons without diabetes mellitus (DM), hypoglycemia is considered to be a decrease in blood glucose concentration to a level of less than 2. 8 mmol / L in combination with certain clinical symptoms or to a level of less than 2.2 mmol / L regardless of symptoms.The specifics of determining hypoglycemia in diabetic patients will be discussed below. Hypoglycemia can occur in the following situations: 1. Under the influence of hypoglycemic (antidiabetic) drugs, such as insulin and insulin secretion stimulants – oral hypoglycemic drugs of the sulfonylurea and glinide groups). It is also called a low blood glucose level (less than 3.9 mmol / L or 70 mg / dL). This condition is dangerous and requires immediate action. When blood sugar decreases, the brain cells do not have enough nutrition and a person can lose consciousness, get into a car accident, or cause injury or injury.The sensitivity to hypoglycemia in people with diabetes is different and depends on what kind of sugars the person has recently. If high, then the body begins to think that an absolutely normal sugar level is hypoglycemia. And if they are low, then the situation is the opposite – the feeling of hypoglycemia can be smoothed out or completely lost. The most common cause of low blood sugar is diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas can no longer produce insulin.In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or the body cannot use it properly. The following conditions or diseases can also be the reasons for the decrease in the concentration of glucose in the blood. How is low blood sugar treated? Urgent treatments for low blood sugar relate to the rapid delivery of a source of easily digestible sugar. Sugary soft drinks, juices, caramel can quickly help raise your sugar levels.

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Diaphast for diabetes is a bioactive complex consisting of 100% organic components. The tool has been developed over the course of 10 years, a number of clinical studies have passed, which have proven high efficacy and safety in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The medicine Diafast is recommended by doctors as a mono-agent or an auxiliary complex to the main treatment. Using Diafast, it is possible to naturally normalize blood glucose levels, reduce insulin resistance, and improve the functionality of internal organs and systems. Diafast contains substances with a hypoglycemic effect, which are safe for use, stimulate the secretion of its own insulin, and reduce the production of glucose by the liver.They normalize the work of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract, improve the functionality of the heart and blood vessels, and the endocrine system. Taking the medicine, unpleasant symptoms of the disease go away, the body is filled with vitamins, minerals, immunity increases, the risk of complications that are extremely dangerous in diabetes decreases. Diafast is taken 2 capsules twice a day. They must be washed down with clean water without gases. The course of treatment is 4 weeks, but you can repeat the therapy with an interval of 4-6 months.To get the result declared by the manufacturer, you need to order the original product on the manufacturer’s website, which fully protects against the risk of buying a fake. Read the instructions carefully before taking diabetes medication. Type 2 diabetes mellitus occurs in people of different ages, and even children suffer from this systemic disease. The disease slowly kills a person and leads to terrible results, like non-healing trophic ulcers, atherosclerosis, obesity of internal organs, blindness, and so on.Diabetics often become disabled and the consequences of the pathology are irreversible. Therefore, you need to purchase an effective remedy that allows you to keep blood sugar levels within the normal range without the risk of addiction and stress on other body systems.

90,000 What is the best range of blood sugar concentration to guide the management of women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) during pregnancy?

What is the problem (question)?

Almost a quarter of pregnant women develop gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), depending on their ethnicity and the diagnostic criteria used. GDM is manifested by high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia) during pregnancy and is associated with an increased risk of high blood pressure (hypertension) and protein in the urine during pregnancy (preeclampsia). These women are more likely to have a Kesser section, develop type 2 diabetes, postpartum depression, and later cardiovascular disease. The high blood sugar levels associated with GDM often return to normal after childbirth, but women with GDM are at risk of re-developing GDM in subsequent pregnancies.Children of mothers diagnosed with GDM have an increased risk of high birth weight (over 4000g), an increased risk of birth trauma due to their size and the development of breathing difficulties after birth. These babies are also at risk of developing obesity and type 2 diabetes in the future.

Why is this important?

Women with GDM are followed up to control high blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of GDM for mother and child. Blood sugar is monitored by measuring its concentration in the blood to make sure it is maintained within a predetermined level or range. To test blood sugar from mothers, it is common to take blood from a fingertip, place a drop of blood on a test strip, which is then inserted into a small machine (glucometer) that measures blood sugar from the test strip. Meter readings alert a pregnant woman to her current blood sugar level and is used as a guide to monitor and treat her. For example, how many units of insulin a woman needs before a meal. However, it is currently not clear what to recommend to pregnant women with newly diagnosed GDM with regard to which blood sugar range is the target and at what rates treatment is required.

What evidence have we found?

We searched for evidence as of January 31, 2016 and found one small randomized controlled trial (abstract only) of poor quality, in which 180 women from Canada participated. This clinical trial compared two blood sugar ranges, one more restrictive and the other more relaxed, and reported very few health outcomes for pregnant women and their children.

This trial did not provide any data for the main outcomes of this review.For women, these outcomes related to the occurrence of high blood pressure and protein in the urine during pregnancy and the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. For children, these outcomes were mortality, increased birth weight, increased risk of birth injury due to the large size of the child, and disability.

In the tightly controlled group, more women were on insulin (but this result is based on very low-quality evidence). There were no clear differences in the frequency of delivery by cesarean section.No other secondary outcomes were reported in women with GDM in this review. Differences in the number of babies weighing more than 4000g or small by gestational age were not reported. No other secondary outcomes were reported in children in this review. No adverse events were reported in this study either.

What does this mean?

This review found that there is still insufficient evidence from randomized controlled trials to determine the best blood sugar range for improving the health of pregnant women with GDM and their children. Four studies are ongoing but not yet completed. More high-quality studies are needed that compare different blood sugar targets and evaluate both short- and long-term health outcomes in women and their children for treatment guidelines. Research should include existing experience in women with GDM and estimate the costs of health services.

“Children also have diabetes …”, City Polyclinic No. 111, St. Petersburg

CHILD DIABETES.RF

The pancreas produces as much insulin as is necessary for the assimilation of food, which enters the bloodstream in the form of glucose. When there is not enough insulin, blood glucose (sugar) levels rise significantly. Symptoms of high blood sugar include increased thirst, increased urination, and weight loss. These symptoms are most common in the early stages of the disease (before diagnosis). All children diagnosed with diabetes need daily insulin injections.In recent years, much has been done in the world to alleviate the plight of people with diabetes who are forced to take several insulin injections a day. Insulin injections are performed with special syringe pens with a small thin needle that do not require sterilization. Externally, syringe pens resemble ordinary thick felt-tip pens. For self-measurement of blood sugar levels, portable devices have been created – glucometers, the size of which does not exceed the size of a mobile phone, and the time for obtaining a result is a few seconds.

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease, for which no radical cure exists yet. Treating diabetes with daily injections of insulin (up to five shots a day), multiple blood sugar tests, and a strict diet can limit the child’s ability to function to some extent. This means that such children need not only additional care during the educational process, but also during rehabilitation and integration into the environment.The family raising a child with diabetes also requires additional care.

There are no contraindications for children with diabetes mellitus to study in a regular general education school and, with very rare exceptions, not only is not necessary to transfer a child to home schooling, but is highly undesirable . The form of homeschooling can only be needed from time to time and in a certain situation by a student.In the school, the teacher remains the main protagonist and helper for the children.

The teacher is responsible for the life of his student with diabetes, the child is entitled to an extra day off and, if necessary, may not attend school on any school day of the week. The issue of exempting a child with diabetes from all or part of the examinations can be decided on an individual basis. This decision should be made collectively, with the participation of doctors, teachers and parents.

The main burden in the process of returning a child with diabetes to normal life, of course, falls on the shoulders of the parents and those closest to him.

School nutrition rules

Along with insulin, proper nutrition is an important part of diabetes management. Children and parents are taught nutritional characteristics already at the first hospitalization, when the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus has just been made. In terms of its composition, the food of a child with diabetes does not differ much from the food of a healthy person, just a certain amount of carbohydrates must be taken into account every day.

Protein products (meat, chicken, fish, sausage, cheese, cottage cheese, eggs), all vegetables (except potatoes and corn) and foods with a high fat content (sour cream, mayonnaise, butter and vegetable oil) have no significant effect on sugar.

A child with diabetes can eat them in normal amounts without worrying about high sugar levels. The diet corresponds to that of the rest of the students: breakfast, lunch and dinner. If the profile of insulin action dictates the need for additional snacks (2nd breakfast, afternoon tea and 2nd dinner), this issue should be further discussed with the parents and the timing of these snacks should be determined.As a rule, the 2nd breakfast (apple, sandwich or cookie) should be 2-2.5 hours after breakfast.

The order of nutrition for diabetes at the same intervals after the main meal – afternoon snack and 2nd dinner. If the child needs snacks, it is important not to miss this time and not to postpone it to a later date, because then there is the possibility of a critical situation (“hypo”). Thus, the teacher should allow a child with diabetes to eat at a specific time for him, regardless of whether he is in the classroom or on an exam, on an excursion or during a trip to the theater.You just need to make sure that the child has food with him that he can eat at the right time. If the student must take a test or exam, it is advisable to choose a time for this so that it does not coincide with the time of the meal. If the child does start to develop hypo symptoms during exercise, he needs to be given something sweet urgently and then sent to eat. You should be especially careful with your child in the swimming pool, as water and swimming greatly reduce blood sugar levels.If the child is taking part in a sporting event, such as a competition, cross-country race or football match, he should have sugar in his pocket, and the organizers of the competition should have a sweet drink.

Diabetes Critical Situations

Hypoglycemia – a condition that develops with a significant decrease in blood sugar levels. Hypo is abbreviated as hypoglycemia. The main symptoms of “hypo” are most often skin pallor, excessive sweating, hand tremors, weakness.However, hypoglycemia can also be manifested by increased nervousness or aggressiveness, excitement, tearfulness, blurred vision, impaired coordination of movements. The most formidable manifestation of this condition, which is called severe hypoglycemia, can be loss of consciousness and seizures.

“Hypo” can develop if the child:

• took too much insulin for yourself;

• did not eat with an insulin injection, missed or

postponed food intake to a later time, ate

is too small;

• received significant physical activity without additional carbohydrate intake.

Allowing the emergence and development of the state of “hypo” is very dangerous for a child’s life!

For proper relief (otherwise treatment) of hypoglycemia, it is necessary urgently (regardless of whether the child is in class or at recess): drink sweet fruit juice (1 glass), or eat 2-4 pieces of sugar, or drink 0. 5 glasses of regular Pepsi-Cola, or take 3 glucose tablets 5 grams each. These products should always be with the child (in a briefcase, bag or pocket).It will be quite enough to eat a cookie, any fruit or a sandwich (all this should always be in the student’s portfolio – parents should monitor this).

There is no need to send the child home: the “hypo” state usually disappears in just 10-15 minutes. If this situation occurs at the end of the school day (in the last lesson, in the locker room), the child, after he has eaten, should be sent home with an escort or called for this by the parents. If the child has lost consciousness, an ambulance must be called immediately.

High blood sugar and the problems associated with this condition are not as bad as hypo, but they also require special attention from teachers. Unlike hypoglycemia, which occurs instantly, the symptoms of high blood sugar build up gradually over several days.

There are many reasons for an increase in blood sugar levels: insufficient insulin dose, too much food, any stress, colds. In this case, the child begins to drink a lot and urinate often.

Physical activity and sports

Physical activity is not prohibited for the child, on the contrary, in moderate amounts and under the control, sports and physical exercises are shown to him. A child with diabetes receives advice from a doctor on how to behave during physical activity. All over the world there are many examples of how professional athletes, being sick with diabetes, do not change their lifestyle due to illness, skillfully calculating physical activity, regimen and insulin therapy. Exercise causes the body to “burn” sugar faster than it would normally, which helps lower blood sugar levels more quickly. Therefore, it must be borne in mind that children with diabetes must check their blood sugar before class, eat or, in extreme cases, eat something sweet (for example, a chocolate bar).

What you need to know about the psychological state of a child with diabetes

The question immediately arises: to speak or not to speak about the disease at school, to relatives, others. The child officially receives the status of a disabled person from childhood, which, of course, does not add to the joy. Many people prefer not to say anything about the disease to others, to hide even at school that the child is sick, not understanding what danger they endanger his life. Of course, each family decides on their own this issue, but even if the parents say nothing to anyone but the teacher about the illness, the child’s behavior in certain situations differs from the behavior of his peers around him and arouses unhealthy interest in the classroom.A lot of problems arise in adolescents with diabetes mellitus. Children and adolescents with diabetes need help to improve relationships with peers, try to make sure that they do not “fall out” of the general circle of interests, and give them a chance to realize themselves.

Advice on choosing a profession

There are several professions in which diabetics cannot be admitted, for example, flying an airplane or a train. However, people with diabetes are allowed to drive a private car.

When considering the issue of choosing a profession as a teacher, school psychologist and parents who help schoolchildren in this difficult matter, it should be borne in mind that diabetes is a disease fraught with various complications and, therefore, possible disability. Those professions are recommended that are not associated with extreme conditions, irregular working hours and lack of opportunities for regular meals.You can recommend choosing, for example, language classes, various humanitarian professions that have a calm, lightweight work schedule. In any case, due to illness, it is impossible not to allow mastering a particular specialty, unless it is included in the list of officially prohibited for people with diabetes.

Points to remember:

1. A child with diabetes should always have glucose (sugar or sweet drink) in an accessible place, especially in the classroom, during sports competitions, physical education, during games and excursions.

2. If you are a homeroom teacher, make sure other teachers are aware of your student’s diabetes and try to be treated appropriately by adults and peers.

3. If a child with diabetes is not well, never send him alone to the medical office or home – only with an escort; if it becomes necessary to send him home, make sure there is an adult at home.

4. Never keep a child with diabetes in school after school when he needs an injection and lunch, or in a class (double lessons), after which he should have a snack.

5. It is hoped that children with diabetes, even at a young age, know a lot about their disease and the peculiarities of its manifestation. Therefore, if such a child turns to you and says that something needs to be done about him, please listen to him and make the right decision.

6. Sometimes a child with diabetes drinks more often than other healthy children. It is caused by an increase in blood sugar levels. Don’t feel like he’s trying to make fun of you when he complains of thirst or often asks to go out.

7. In a hypo situation, do as described above in this material.

9. Strict control over the course of diabetes is possible only with a balance between the dose of insulin, nutrition and exercise.However, in children with diabetes, even in those who carefully monitor this balance, cases of sudden hypoglycemia and, conversely, a sharp increase in blood sugar levels are not excluded. They often need psychological support, should feel that they are not alone, but are part of the peer group of the class.

Conclusion

Children with diabetes should not be given special patronage. They must follow all school rules equally as other children.This is just a little extra care for them. At the same time, they require unobtrusive, careful supervision.

The teacher may suspect diabetes in his student. It is no secret that children, while at school, often communicate with teachers more than with their own parents. Employment of parents at work, late return home can be the reason that the onset of the disease goes unnoticed. A disease is diagnosed when the child becomes very ill – there is a sharp weakness, shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting.These are late manifestations of diabetes, and it is often necessary to get out of this condition in the intensive care unit. If you notice that the child drinks a lot, often runs to the toilet, tell the doctor about it.

90,000 Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)

What is it?

Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) occurs when your blood sugar or glucose is too low. It causes tremors, anxiety, clammy skin, irritability, headache, palpitations, and hunger.Low sugar levels are common in people with diabetes, which can be caused by diabetes medication, nutritional deficiencies, or exercise. Such a pathology can be a life-threatening condition for diabetics and provoke convulsions, coma, and even death. Certain medical problems, including cancer, medications, tumors, excess alcohol consumption, and hereditary factors, can lead to low blood sugar levels in people who do not have diabetes.In some cases, a condition called reactive hypoglycemia develops, which causes a drop in blood sugar four hours after a meal. Treatment depends on what caused the decline. In diabetics, this condition can be prevented by regularly monitoring blood sugar levels and keeping them in the normal range. The therapy of concomitant diseases also helps to solve the problem. Reactive hypoglycemia can be managed by eating small meals with a break of 3 hours.

What to expect?

Early symptoms of low blood sugar include tremors, fatigue, anxiety, hunger, and irritability. At the first sign of such a condition, a diabetic should eat 15 grams of carbohydrates, for example, 1 tablespoon of sugar (honey) or drink half a glass of fruit juice. If your blood glucose remains below 70 mg / dL after 15 minutes, you should consume another serving of carbohydrates. Next, you should continue to eat 15 grams every 15 minutes until the glucose level exceeds 70 mg / dL.A marked decrease in blood sugar can provoke confusion, severe drowsiness, fainting, and coma. Anyone with these symptoms should see a doctor immediately. A large-scale diabetes control study has shown that people with diabetes who have a drop in blood sugar have a 50% risk of having a seizure recurrence and a 25% risk of developing a third seizure within the next 24 hours.

Prevalence

Millions of people have episodic or mild drops in blood sugar, but people with diabetes who take insulin and other blood sugar lowering drugs are at higher risk of developing this condition.

Treatment

Treatment includes:

• small amounts of carbohydrates;
• Determination of the effect of the drugs taken and their timely adjustment;
• amendments to the diet;
• Treatment of any concomitant diseases.

What can you do yourself?

People with diabetes can control the decrease in blood sugar by checking the level regularly and quickly correcting the situation with food consumption until the level returns to normal.People with reactive hypoglycemia can prevent the problem with small meals every three hours, regular exercise, a healthy diet, and avoiding high sugar foods on an empty stomach.

How does it get worse?

Taking too much insulin or diabetes medications, poor nutrition, refusing to eat regular food, overtraining without adjusting the insulin dose or diet, exacerbate the manifestations of the pathology.

When to see a doctor?

If symptoms of low blood sugar levels are detected without a known cause, consult a doctor. Symptoms include:

• anxiety;
• perspiration;
• drowsiness;
• trembling;
• headaches;
• heartbeat;
• confusion of consciousness;
• irritability;
• skin tackiness;
• feeling of hunger.

Very low sugar levels can cause blackouts, seizures, coma and death.If you have diabetes and your blood sugar continues to fall, you should seek medical advice because your treatment plan may need to be adjusted. If symptoms of low glucose do not improve with fast-digesting food or worsen, medical attention is required immediately.

What to ask a doctor?

• What caused the drop in sugar?
• Should the dosage be changed?
• What can you do if this condition recurs?
• Should I check my blood sugar more often?
• Could this be something other than a drop in blood sugar?

Making a Diagnosis

A doctor can diagnose low blood sugar based on medical history, physical examination, glucose measurements, and other blood tests.

Risk factors

• Diabetes.
• Medicines for diabetes.
• Drunkenness.
• Taking medications such as beta blockers.

Diabetes | Merck Russia

Diabetes is a chronic, progressive disease characterized by high blood sugar [13]. It occurs when the body is unable to produce the hormone insulin or cannot use it properly, resulting in high blood sugar, a condition known as hyperglycemia.Symptoms include increased thirst, frequent urination, blurred vision, and weight loss [1].

Over time, high blood sugar can harm the body and lead to serious and life-threatening complications [1]. In fact, according to WHO estimates, high blood sugar is the third leading cause of premature death – after high blood pressure and smoking [14]. Hyperglycemia also increases the risk of chronic diseases, including those associated with the heart, in all population groups, regardless of income level [14].

Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, helps cells in our body absorb glucose, using it as fuel [15].

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, but there are essentially three main types:

Type 1 diabetes mellitus. People with type 1 diabetes make very little or no insulin and are fully dependent on daily insulin injections to control blood sugar [1]. As a rule, this disease is caused by an autoimmune reaction in which the body’s defense system attacks the insulin-producing cells, although the reason for this behavior has not yet been fully understood [1]. It is believed that food or lifestyle has nothing to do with it [1]. The disease most often occurs in children and young people [1].

Type 2 diabetes mellitus. People with type 2 diabetes do not respond well to insulin. It is capable of producing insulin, but develops resistance to it, as a result of which insulin becomes ineffective [1].Over time, the level of insulin in the blood may be insufficient [1]. Both insulin resistance and insulin deficiency lead to an increase in blood sugar [1]. As a rule, adults suffer from this, but now this tendency is increasingly observed in children and adolescents [1].

Gestational diabetes. We are talking about hyperglycemia, first diagnosed during pregnancy and, as a rule, disappears after childbirth [1].