Blood Sugar Complications

What to Do When Blood Sugar Gets Dangerous

The consequences can be life-threatening if your blood sugar gets very high or low. If you have diabetes, learning the symptoms and what to do if your blood sugar gets out of a safe range is crucial. 

With diabetes, a blood sugar of 70 mg/dL or below is considered low. Below 54 mg/dL is severely low. 

A blood sugar level over 180 mg/dL two hours after eating is considered high and can damage your body over time. Immediately dangerous complications can start at 250 mg/dL.

Low Blood Sugar

When your blood sugar is low, your brain and cells do not have the fuel they need to function. If it gets low enough, hypoglycemia can lead to fainting, seizures, coma, and death. 

Causes of Low Blood Sugar

Your blood sugar can drop if you do not eat enough or cannot eat because you’re sick. Taking too much insulin or other medications can also lower blood sugar. 

Recognize and Treat Low Blood Sugar

The first signs of low blood sugar are usually feeling shaky and hungry and looking pale. You may also have:

  • A racing heart

  • Anxiety

  • Irritability

  • Sweating

  • Dizziness

Treatment for low blood sugar is simple in the early stages: Eat some sugar. 

Don't reach for a diet soda — diet sweeteners will not help. Drinking fruit juice or eating other simple sugars are the best ways to raise your blood sugar quickly. Aim for 15 grams of carbs. Recheck your blood sugar after 15 minutes. 

Examples:

  • About ½ cup of juice

  • One tablespoon of sugar or honey

You can also find the carbohydrate content in hard candies or jellybeans on the label or refer to the instructions for using commercial glucose tablets or gel. 

Follow with a nutritious meal or snack that contains protein for a lasting effect.

Get help right away if you experience:

  • Weakness

  • Confusion 

  • Blurred vision 

  • Trouble walking

  • Seizures

These are signs of severely low blood sugar. Eating sugar can help, but it will not be enough to raise your blood sugar to safe levels. You will need a medication called glucagon. 

You take glucagon by injection, and it is available by prescription. If you have diabetes, ask your doctor if you should have some on hand. Get a friend or family member to help you take it.

If no glucagon is available, call 911.

Act Fast

If you have symptoms of low blood sugar, but can't check it, it is better to treat it than wait.

High Blood Sugar

High blood sugar can cause a condition called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), which occurs when you have used up the insulin you need to move sugar into your cells for energy. Your liver begins breaking down fat for energy in a process called ketosis. Though similar, the process leading to DKA differs from the ketosis produced by the popular ketogenic diet. 

In DKA, your body makes many more ketones than it can use. Too many ketones in your blood create a state called acidosis. There are about 5 times as many ketones in your blood during ketoacidosis than in healthy metabolic ketosis. Acidosis can lead to a coma or death. 

Causes of High Blood Sugar

High blood sugar can happen for many reasons. One of the most common is having insufficient insulin to use the carbohydrates you eat. Partner with your doctor and a dietitian to find the right balance between diet and medications. 

Also pay extra attention to your blood sugar when you are sick. Stress and illness can raise it too. 

Recognize and Treat High Blood Sugar 

You may not feel any symptoms of high blood sugar, especially early on. Regularly checking your blood sugar with a glucometer is critical. If you do have symptoms, you may feel thirsty, have a dry mouth, or need to urinate frequently. 

To treat high blood sugar, adjust your dose if you use insulin. Talk with your doctor about having a rescue insulin dose available. Keeping hydrated and exercising can also help. 

Get urgent medical attention if your blood sugar is high and you have:

  • Nausea or vomiting

  • Fast breathing

  • Fast heartbeat

  • Difficulty staying awake

Check Yourself

Some people don't have symptoms when their blood sugar changes. It is essential to get to know your body and check your blood sugar often if you have diabetes. The best way to avoid dangerous levels is to stay aware and act early.

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