Diabetes symptoms are manageable, though it is important that one knows the difference between hypoglycemic reactions vs. hyperglycemic reactions, their symptoms and the treatment. The best way to determine whether your blood sugar is high or low if you have diabetes is to do a blood glucose test. It is important for patients with diabetes to talk to a doctor about how to manage either reaction, especially if they are on glucose lowering medication and/or insulin.
Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia is a low blood sugar level. According to the American Diabetes Association, hypoglycemic symptoms include shakiness, dizziness, sweating, hunger, headache, pale skin, sudden moodiness or behavior change, clumsy movements, seizures, difficulty paying attention or confusion, and tingling around the mouth. One may have one or two symptoms or none at all. When a person has hypoglycemia it must be treated quickly otherwise she could lose consciousness and it could become a medical emergency very quickly.
Hyperglycemia
Hyperglycemia is a high blood sugar level. According to the American Diabetes Association, hyperglycemia symptoms include high blood glucose, high levels of sugar in the urine, frequent urination and increased thirst. When a person has high blood sugar, it is important to work with his doctor to manage his diabetes better with medication or a change in diet. Chronic high blood sugar levels lead to complications of diabetes such as kidney disease, neuropathy or eye damage.
Testing is Important
It is important that people with diabetes check their blood sugars when they have symptoms of high or low blood sugar and as often as their doctor recommends. When testing, the measurements should be recorded so that the health care provider can look at trends and discuss diet or medication changes necessary to manage the diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association, the normal blood sugar before a meal should be 70 to 130mg/dl and the normal blood sugar after a meal should be under 180mg/dl.
