Normally, your body undergoes a series of physiological reactions to help control your blood glucose level. If you are diabetic, it means that some aspect of these physiological processes is not working properly. Although there are different types of diabetes, each type causes abnormal levels of glucose in your blood.
Blood Glucose Numbers
If you have diabetes, your doctor will set a target range for your blood sugar levels based on different situations. Generally, if you have been fasting for 8 to 12 hours, your blood glucose should fall between 90 and 130 mg/dL. Between meals, your blood glucose should range from 70 and 130 mg/dL. One to two hours after meals, your blood glucose should not exceed 180 mg/dL. Specific target ranges may differ between individuals.
Hyperglycemia
Hyperglycemia is a condition characterized by abnormally high blood glucose levels. The definition of high blood glucose differs based on your target blood glucose levels. Generally, fasting blood sugar higher than 130 mg/dL is considered high. Blood glucose levels that exceed 180 mg/dL one to two hours after meals are also considered high.
If your blood reaches 200 mg/dL or higher, you may begin to experience physical symptoms, which include frequent urination, increased thirst, fatigue, headache, severe hunger and blurred vision. As blood sugar continues to rise, you may experience nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, weakness, confusion, dry mouth and shortness of breath. Treatment for hyperglycemia depends on the type of diabetes.
Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia occurs when blood glucose levels fall below normal. In order to receive a hypoglycemia diagnosis, your blood glucose levels must be below 40 mg/dL. When glucose levels fall too low, you may experience hunger, nervousness, tremor, lightheadedness, dizziness, weakness, difficulty speaking, confusion, fatigue and increased sweating.
If you become hypoglycemic, you should eat something as soon as possible to return your blood glucose levels back to normal. Foods that contain simple sugars, such as honey, hard candy, soda, fruit juice or pure sugar, can help increase your glucose levels quickly. Glucose tablets, which contain 15 g of carbohydrates, are also available to correct hypoglycemia quickly.
Considerations
In order to ensure that you stay within your normal blood glucose level, it is important to check your blood glucose levels regularly. If your blood glucose is too high or too low, you should take the necessary steps to correct your glucose levels. It is also vital to follow your treatment plan closely and not to administer too much insulin at one time.
