Diabetes is a difficult health condition to live with. When one has high blood sugar levels – a condition which is known as hyperglycemia, one must quickly take corrective action. For people with type-1 diabetes, taking fast-acting insulin is the best method, but that might not be an option for people who have built type-2 diabetes. Let us discuss this subject in greater detail. To understand more about the different types of diabetes, go here.

High blood sugar can lead to a condition called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). That may result in severe consequences like shortness of breath, a fruity smell in breaths, nausea, dry mouth, vomiting, etc. The following are some of the things to do if one is experiencing such symptoms:

Here is how to reduce your blood sugar level immediately:

1. If prescribed, take insulins

If one has insulin prescribed to one then taking a dose of insulin quickly will bring blood sugar levels down. However, insulin can also bring blood sugar levels extremely low and one must ensure that it doesn’t come too low by checking regularly every half hour.

2. Exercise

Exercise is a natural, fast and effective way of reducing blood sugar levels. Some cardiovascular exercise is the best way of keeping blood sugar levels lower for a whole day. Sugar in the blood gets used by cells to create energy for muscles. Additionally, the body can also grow more sensitive to insulin. Exercise is not an option if one has a high blood sugar at 240 mg/dl and one has ketones in urine – on the contrary, it might worsen the situation. Ketone testing for kids is easily available in the market. The type of exercise is also critical here. Doing short bursts of strenuous exercise can worsen the situation as it will activate the stress response in the body., making it release additional glycogen. Instead, one needs an exercise that can be carried for some time (an hour or two), and increases the heartbeat but not too much. Brisk walking can be a good example of such exercise.

3. See a doctor

Wherever possible as well as if nothing else works, one must see a medical practitioner. If one has ketones in urine, it is critical to go to a medical practitioner. The same applies in case of difficulty in breathing. High blood sugar levels can cause a fluid imbalance in the body which may require treatment with IV fluids. It can also cause the blood to grow acidic and the treatment for the same needs administrating intravenous insulin.

Do check out our article on normal blood sugar levels chart for more details.

FAQs

There are several questions about the different methods of treating increased blood sugar. The following are some of the most Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.s) :

Question: What are some of the other tips for dealing with such a situation?

Answer: Some excellent tips include the following:

• Drinking water during a situation can help restore hydration to the body, especially since frequent urination is a symptom.
• Ketone tests can serve as a warning against a coming emergency.

Question: What are some health complications that can arise if one has high blood sugar levels frequently?

Answer: The following are some of the complications that can arise if the high blood sugar remains untreated frequently:

• Nerve damage, called diabetic neuropathy – is known to affect sensations in the feet and hands. In rare cases, it can lead to amputation.
• Vision can be severely affected – at times it can even lead to blindness
• Kidney problems – to extent of kidney failure.
• Heart problems – including cardiac arrest and stroke.

Question: How to manage blood sugar levels to ensure that they won’t rise?

Answer: The following tips can help avoid an excessive rise in blood sugar levels:

• Eating a balanced diet and sticking to a good dietary plan. The diet should be built while keeping blood sugar goals in mind. These goals will act as your reference point for future blood sugar level maintenance.
• Doing light exercises regularly.
• Stress is known to increase blood sugar. It might thus be crucial to learn some destressing techniques such as breathing exercises, yoga, listening to music, etc. Avoiding stressful situations is also desirable.

Question: Do all types of diabetic patients have this problem?

Answer: No. People with type-1 diabetes are likely to suffer from it while those with type-2 diabetes are not so much. That, however, is not a fixed rule.

Question: What if one has a lower blood sugar?

Answer: That condition is called hypoglycemia and can actually be worse than higher blood sugar. It can be treated by eating some snacks. To avoid such situations, always have some healthy snacks handy.

If the reader has any other questions, they should feel free to ask them here.

The Bottom Line

One can easily wrap up the above discussion by concluding that increased blood sugar levels can lead to emergencies and must be properly treated.