If you're diabetic, it's important that you monitor your blood sugar levels. If you notice frequent occurrences of either high or low blood sugar levels, notify your doctor for appropriate insulin or medication adjustments. You should also let your friends and family know about symptoms of confusion they may see. Following a healthy, balanced diet and monitoring your levels will help you control your disease.
High Sugar Symptoms
Symptoms of high blood sugar occur once the blood sugar level reaches 200 mg/dL. In the beginning, symptoms can include an increase in thirst, fatigue, blurred vision and frequent urination. Symptoms can progress to nausea, vomiting, breath which has a fruity smell, toxic acid buildup in the bloodstream and urine, dry mouth, abdominal pain, confusion, weakness and shortness of breath. Complications can be a diabetic coma, damage to the body's organs or death.
High Sugar and Your Health
When blood sugar levels get too high due to inadequate insulin or eating too much, the result is hyperglycemia. Treatment of hyperglycemia includes drinking plenty of fluids and taking insulin. One of the main ways of preventing high blood sugar is frequently testing of blood sugar levels in the body. Other effective ways to control blood sugar levels is exercise and eating properly. If your blood sugar frequently rises above the normal level, it is important to consult with a doctor to learn how to control your blood sugar.
Low Sugar Symptoms
Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, triggers symptoms once the blood sugar level decreases below 70 mg/dL. Early symptoms of hypoglycemia include dizziness, increased hunger, shaky feeling, sweating, anxiety, headache, irritability and heart palpitations. Symptoms can progress to muscle weakness, trouble speaking, clumsiness, confusion, drowsiness and vision problems, such as blurry or double vision. Seizures, unconsciousness or death can result from untreated hypoglycemia.
Low Sugar and Your Health
The result of low blood sugar is hypoglycemia, which can result from too much insulin or not eating enough. The first thing to do when symptoms occur is to eat or drink something to increase the blood sugar levels such as hard candy, glucose tablets, sugar, honey or juice. You may also need a glucagon injection. Emergency treatment is needed if the hypoglycemia doesn't improve, inability to swallow or unconsciousness. Hypoglycemia can be prevented by frequent blood sugar level monitoring and following a healthy diet.
