Dealing with Highs

You have "high blood sugar" or hyperglycemia when your blood sugar level has risen and stayed well above normal. When this happens often, your diabetes is said to be "out of control." Blood sugars will change depending upon a number of factors.

What causes hyperglycemia

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

• food
• not taking enough or the right type of diabetes medicine
• emotional stress
• extra sugar made by your liver
• 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 hyperglycemia

The tricky thing about hyperglycemia is that you can feel just fine even though your blood sugar is too high. When symptoms of hyperglycemia 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
• dry or itchy skin
• feeling tired or sleepy
• blurred vision
• frequent infections
• slow healing of cuts or sores
• having to urinate often, especially at night

How to treat hyperglycemia

If you have hyperglycemia, it should be treated. Although there may be no short-term symptoms, there are long-term health risks related to hyperglycemia. Talk with your doctor or diabetes educator about hyperglycemia. Discuss your desire to lower your blood sugar by improving control 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