For a diabetic, normal blood sugar ranges can vary from 70 mg/dL before eating to 180 mg/dL an hour or two after meals. Chronic high blood sugar can lead to serious medical complications, including blindness, nerve damage and kidney failure. Left untreated, blood sugar levels over 400 might result in ketoacidosis, a diabetic coma that could be fatal. High glucose levels could be the result of over-eating, missing a scheduled dose of diabetes medication, a lack of physical activity, illness or stress. You should consult your doctor or seek emergency medical treatment if your glucose levels remain above 400 mg/dL.
Step 1
Test your urine for ketones. Any time your blood sugar rises above 240 mg/dL, your body may start burning fat, rather than glucose, for energy. The by-products of this process, ketones, are released into your body and excreted by your kidneys in your urine. If too many ketones build up, your kidneys cannot eliminate them all and they accumulate in your blood, leading to ketoacidosis. Do not exercise to lower your blood sugar if there are ketones in your urine. If no ketones are present, exercise will help your body use the extra glucose in your bloodstream, effectively lowering your blood sugar level.
Step 2
Calm down as much as possible. Because stress can drive your blood sugar levels up, learning techniques that may help you cope with difficult situations will help lower your blood sugar. Try deep breathing, creative visualization, yoga or keeping a journal.
Step 3
Take an additional dose of insulin. Use fast-acting, not regular, insulin. The Diabetes Teaching Center at UCSF advises you to take one unit of insulin per 50 mg/dL that you need to lower. If your blood sugar level is 400 and you are trying to get it down to 200 mg/dL, take four units of insulin. Your current level, 400, minus your target level, 200, equals 200. Divide 200 mg/dL by 50 to get 4. Take four units of fast-acting insulin.
Step 4
Prevent high blood sugar levels by avoiding foods high in carbohydrates. Only carbohydrates affect your blood sugar. You might need to meet with a dietitian to create a meal plan that suits your lifestyle and teaches you portion control.
Tips and Warnings
- Look for patterns of high and low blood sugar. Finding the triggers that affect your glucose levels may help you avoid hyper- and hypoglycemia in the future.
- Symptoms of ketoacidosis include difficulty breathing, dry mouth, vomiting and "fruity-smelling" breath. Seek immediate medical help of you have ketoacidosis.
Things You'll Need
- Insulin
References
- University of Florida: Healthy Living: Hyperglycemia and Hypoglycemia
- McKinley Health Center, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: Hyperglycemia
- Diabetes Teaching Center at the University of California, San Fransisco: Calculating Insulin Dose
- Medline Plus: Diabetic Hyperglycemic Hyperosmolar Syndrome
