Dealing with Highs

When your blood sugar (glucose) is too high (hyperglycemia), your diabetes is said to be "out of control." Blood sugars will change depending upon a number of factors.

What causes high blood sugar

Here are some things that will cause your blood sugar to increase:

• food (especially foods that contain carbohydrates)
• not taking enough or the right type of diabetes medicine
• emotional stress
• getting less exercise than usual
• physical stress (being sick or in pain)

A number of medicines, including over-the-counter medicines, may increase your blood sugar. Talk to your healthcare provider to find out what is safe for you.

Symptoms of high blood sugar

With high blood sugar, you can feel just fine even though your blood sugar is too high. When symptoms of high blood sugar are present, they may be mild or come on so slowly you don't notice them. So, this is why it is important to test your blood sugar regularly.

Watch for the following symptoms:

• more hunger or thirst than usual
• feeling tired or sleepy
• blurred vision
• frequent infections
• slow healing of cuts or sores
• having to urinate often, especially at night

How to treat high blood sugar

If you have high blood sugar, it should be treated. Although there may be no short-term symptoms, there are long-term health risks related to high blood sugar. Talk with your doctor or diabetes educator about high blood sugar. Discuss your desire to lower your blood sugar by improving the managment of your diabetes and ask your healthcare provider what your options are for reaching your goals.

Your options may include:

• a change in medicines or doses
• more careful meal planning
• more regular exercise
• more frequent blood testing and a plan for acting on the results