One of the keys to living a healthy life with diabetes is consistent control of blood glucose levels. As a major source of energy, glucose plays an important role in maintaining normal body function. People with any type of diabetes should be aware of the symptoms of blood glucose imbalance.
Patient’s blood glucose is too low
When blood sugar levels are too low, the patient’s brain can be affected.
Showing an intoxicated state or losing consciousness
Low blood glucose can cause the patient to fall east, slur their pronunciation, or even pass out.
What to do: It is best to wear a medical wristband or necklace to let others know you are diabetic.
If the patient’s blood sugar is too low, consuming about 15 to 20 grams of simple sugar will improve it, or you can drink half a glass of orange juice, two tablespoons of raisins or one tablespoon of sugar, or glucose tablets with gel. Patients can carry an injectable hormone called glucagon with them and tell their friends in advance how to administer the injection if they faint or cannot swallow. Patients should ask their doctor if they need to carry glucagon with them.
If you can, test your blood glucose by taking blood from your fingertips 15 minutes after ingesting 15 grams of sugar. If blood glucose is still low (below 70 mg/dL or below 100 mg/dL with symptoms), continue carbohydrate intake. After the patient’s blood glucose returns to the target range, he/she should eat or snack to prevent a further drop in blood glucose. If, after 3 tests, the patient’s blood glucose remains low or symptoms persist, call emergency services.
Patients must inform their doctor about episodes of hypoglycemia so that the treatment plan can be adjusted.
Patient has high blood glucose
High blood sugar usually does damage slowly over time, but in some cases emergency measures are needed. Patients with any of the following symptoms should have their blood glucose measured with fingertip blood.
Excessive urination
It is normal to pass about 2 liters of urine per day.
What to do: Since patients may not be able to measure urine output, they can watch for changes in their urination habits. One reason for frequent urination or waking up at night to urinate (especially in younger people) is hyperglycemia.
David Michael Erani, MD, says, “Having a condition where you wake up at night to urinate and urinate more than usual indicates a physical problem.” He is an endocrinologist at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, USA, and a lecturer in medicine at Harvard Medical School. Patients with overactive bladder disorder or prostate enlargement can also experience frequent urination. If there is no increase in actual urination, it means that the patient is not necessarily experiencing a blood sugar imbalance.
Excessive thirst
Hot weather, intake of saltier foods, or increased exercise routine can make a person feel more thirsty. Excessive urination can also cause thirst. What to do: Drink water consistently when you are thirsty. If the person is dehydrated, treatment may be needed.
Thirst means “your body is prompting you to drink more water,” says Fernando Ovalle, MD, director of the Center for Clinical Research in Diabetes and Endocrinology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine. Peeing and drinking more than 3,800 milliliters a day indicates a problem with your body.
Weight loss on a normal diet
When blood sugar levels are high, calories are excreted through the urine. “The body makes you feel hungry and thirsty as a way to replace the fluid and energy lost from the urine,” Fernando said.
What to do: Discuss your diet with your doctor or adjust your medication as appropriate.
Extreme fatigue
Do you still feel tired after 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night? Glucose is the body’s main source of energy, and when blood sugar levels in the body are too high, glucose will not be used properly.
What to do.
What to do: Discuss your diet with your doctor or adjust your medication as appropriate.
Call emergency services if the patient is unable to get up, feels dizzy or nauseous.
Slow wound healing
Small wounds, bleeding gums, infections, and ulcers usually heal within a few days. However, the white blood cells that fight infection depend on normal blood glucose levels. When the patient’s body has too much glucose, the white blood cell response to infection becomes delayed.
What to do: Check your skin, especially your feet, 2 times a day. Nerve damage from diabetes can affect the patient’s ability to perceive skin irritations that can lead to ulcers. If you find that the wound does not heal within a few days, discuss your diet with your doctor or adjust your medication as appropriate.
Eye problems
Fernando said that when blood sugar changes, the lens of a patient’s eye can shrink or swell as a result, causing blurred vision or a small black spot called mosquito fly. This in itself is not serious, but patients should also be diagnosed through an ophthalmologist. If a patient suddenly loses vision, either completely or partially, call an emergency number or go to an emergency room.
Other symptoms that need attention
People with diabetes are at greater risk for heart disease and should not ignore symptoms such as shoulder pain, nausea or discomfort in the arms, jaw, or chest, even if they come and go, and watch for symptoms such as shortness of breath, fainting, or sudden cold sweats. If any of these symptoms occur, call the emergency number.
How do I keep my blood sugar under control?
In addition to taking prescribed medications, diet and exercise are also critical to controlling blood glucose. A home glucose meter can provide effective feedback and make it easy for patients to record. Learn how to test your blood glucose at home from a diabetes educator or organization.
Ask your doctor about target blood glucose ranges, learn how to handle blood glucose above or below the target range, and ask when ketone bodies should be measured in the urine. Tell your doctor immediately if there are ketone bodies in your urine.