Diabetes: Preventing high blood sugar emergencies
How do I prevent high blood sugar emergencies?
The best way to prevent a high blood sugar emergency is to keep it from developing.
Treat infections early
Untreated infections (such as urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and skin infections) can increase your risk for a high blood sugar emergency.
Be prepared
- Know the symptoms of high blood sugar. Post a list of the symptoms in a place where you can see it often, such as on your refrigerator door. Add any symptoms you have noticed that may not be on the list. Make sure other people know the symptoms and what to do in case of an emergency.
- Check your blood sugar at home often, especially if you are sick or not following your normal routine. If you don't have a home blood sugar meter (glucose meter), talk with your doctor about getting one. It is easy to overlook early symptoms, especially if you have increased urination without increased thirst. Testing your blood sugar at home will help you know when it is high, even if you do not notice symptoms.
- Teach others (at work and at home) the symptoms of high blood sugar. Teach others to call 911 if you are unconscious or too sick to check your own blood sugar.
- Wear medical identification. Have a medical alert bracelet
or other form of medical jewelry with you at all times. This is very important in case you are too sick or injured to speak for yourself. You can obtain medical identification at a pharmacy or on the Internet.
- Have ketone test strips on hand. Test your urine for ketones if your blood sugar level is above 300 mg/dL.
- Develop a plan. Usually people who take insulin need to take extra fast-acting insulin when their blood sugar levels are high. Talk with your doctor about how much to take, depending on your blood sugar level (sliding scale).
- Take your medications as prescribed. Don't skip diabetes medicine or insulin doses without first talking with your doctor.
Treat high blood sugar early
The best way to prevent high blood sugar emergencies is to treat high blood sugar as soon as you have symptoms or when your blood sugar is significantly above a target range (200 mg/dL or higher).
- Follow your doctor's instructions for the steps for dealing with high blood sugar. Post a list of the steps in a convenient place at home and work. Make sure other people know what to do if you are unable to treat high blood sugar.
- Keep a record. Write down your symptoms and how you treated them and take it with you when you visit your doctor. Use the high blood sugar record
(What is a PDF document?).
- Call your doctor. Let your doctor know if you are having high blood sugar problems. Your pills for diabetes may need to be adjusted or changed. If you are taking insulin, your dose of insulin may need to be increased.
Drink plenty of liquids
If your blood sugar levels are above your target range, drink extra liquids to replace the fluids lost through your urine. Water and diet drinks are best. Avoid caffeinated drinks, alcohol, and soda pop and other liquids that contain a lot of sugar.
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| Author: | Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS | Last Updated: September 24, 2008 |
| Medical Review: | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Matthew I. Kim, MD - Endocrinology & Metabolism | |
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