High blood sugar, or hyperglycemia as it is known technically, is a major complication for people with diabetes. It occurs from time to time with diabetics for various reasons, many of which you can control. If you have been diligent in following your care plan, and you still experience problems, you need to contact your doctor and dietitian -- it may be time for an adjustment in the treatment of your disease.
Step 1
Check your glucose level regularly. Self-testing should be done regularly, not only when symptoms arise. On average testing is done 3 to 4 times a day. Your doctor will tell you exactly when to test as well as what your target blood sugar range is. Chart your results to see if any pattern develops. Perhaps your blood sugar spikes when you experience stress, or maybe it occurs after meals. This information will help your doctor and dietitian determine what changes to your care plan are necessary.
Step 2
Take a walk. Depending on how high your blood sugar level is, exercising can be a healthy way to lower it. Exercising forces your body to burn excess glucose -- the sugar in your blood -- for energy, thus reducing your level. Thirty minutes of exercise, such as walking, is usually sufficient. Always follow the exercise routine your doctor devises for you.
Step 3
Increase your intake of complex carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates, such as whole grain bread, whole wheat pasta, brown and wild rice, broccoli, cauliflower, oats and bran, take longer to digest and enter your bloodstream. The sugars they contain have less of an impact on your blood sugar level, regulating it rather than causing rapid spikes.
Step 4
Use your exchange list. Foods on the exchange list contain the same amount of carbs, fat, protein and calories as another food, which means they all have the same effect on your blood sugar. If you choose to eat an apple rather than one serving of pasta, it won't increase your blood sugar level. However, eating both an apple and the pasta, will.
Step 5
Cut back on your saturated fats. MayoClinic.com notes that your saturated fat intake should account for no more than 7 percent of your total daily calories. Not only do saturated fats increase your risk of heart disease, a complication of diabetes, they are also high in calories and can cause your blood sugar to skyrocket. Pay close attention to the amount of red meat, whole fat dairy, and eggs you consume. Instead, stick with non-fat dairy, poultry or fish and egg whites.
Step 6
Eat smaller meals through the day. Maintain a diet of five or six small meals a day, dividing your allotted calories between each meal. Eating the same amount of calories at the same time each day prevents spikes in your blood sugar level.
Tips and Warnings
- Symptoms of high blood sugar include frequent urination, excessive thirst, fatigue, headache and blurred vision. Having one or more of these indicates the need to perform a glucose test.
- If your blood sugar is 240 mg/dL or greater prior to exercise, you may have ketones in your urine, which can cause your blood sugar to climb higher. Perform a ketone test; if they are too high, do not exercise. Instead, call your doctor. A high level of ketones requires immediate medical attention
