Signs Of High And Low Blood Sugar
One of the challenges of managing diabetes is maintaining consistent blood sugar (glucose) levels. Even with diligence, some situations can cause high blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, while others can bring on low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia. So it’s important to know the signs of both high and low levels, and what actions to take to bring them back within a desired range. Monitoring your blood sugar levels with a glucose meter will do a lot to help you keep those levels steady and avoid the complications that can come with diabetes. According to the Mayo Clinic, how often you check your blood sugar level depends on many factors, including your age, the type and severity of your diabetes, the length of time that you've had the condition, and the presence of any diabetes-related complications. About High Blood Sugar (Hyperglycemia) Common signs of high blood sugar include frequent urination, fatigue, dry or itchy skin, feeling thirsty, more frequent infections, and eating more food but not gaining as much weight as usual, says Athena Philis-Tsimikas, MD of the Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute in San Diego, California. A blood sugar reading above 180 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) is considered above normal and can bring on these symptoms, although it’s possible to have high blood sugar without any symptoms, Dr. Philis-Tsimikas says. A reading above 300 mg/dL is considered severe. If your blood sugar is above 250 mg/dL for two days, Philis-Tsimikas advises informing your doctor and asking for specific treatment recommendations. Blood sugar levels above 300 mg/dL can cause nausea, drowsiness, blurred vision, confusion, and dizziness, especially when standing up from a sitting or lying position. Ways to treat high blood sugar include: Taking your prescribed medicati Continue reading >>
High Glucose: What It Means And How To Treat It
What is high blood glucose? People who do not have diabetes typically have fasting plasma blood glucose levels that run under 126 mg/dl. Your physician will define for you what your target blood glucose should be — identifying a blood glucose target that is as close to normal as possible that you can safely achieve given your overall medical health. In general, high blood glucose, also called 'hyperglycemia', is considered "high" when it is 160 mg/dl or above your individual blood glucose target. Be sure to ask your healthcare provider what he or she thinks is a safe target for you for blood glucose before and after meals. If your blood glucose runs high for long periods of time, this can pose significant problems for you long-term — increased risk of complications, such as eye disease, kidney disease, heart attacks and strokes and more. High blood glucose can pose health problems in the short-term as well. Your treatment plan may need adjustment if the blood glucose stays over 180 mg/dl for 3 days in a row. It is important to aim to keep your blood glucose under control, and treat hyperglycemia when it occurs. What are the symptoms of high blood glucose? Increased thirst Increased urination Dry mouth or skin Tiredness or fatigue Blurred vision More frequent infections Slow healing cuts and sores Unexplained weight loss What causes high blood glucose? Too much food Too little exercise or physical activity Skipped or not enough diabetes pills or insulin Insulin that has spoiled after being exposed to extreme heat or freezing cold Stress, illness, infection, injury or surgery A blood glucose meter that is not reading accurately What should you do for high blood glucose? Be sure to drink plenty of water. It is recommended to drink a minimum of 8 glasses each day. If yo Continue reading >>
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What Does It Mean When The Bd Blood Sugar Montior Reads Hi
HealthBoards > Immune & Autoimmune > Diabetes > what does it mean when the bd blood sugar montior reads hi what does it mean when the bd blood sugar montior reads hi what does it mean when the bd blood sugar montior reads hi Re: what does it mean when the bd blood sugar montior reads hi Knowing that meters accuracy, it probably means something to the effect of you're bs is 97. All kidding aside, verify the reading, and if it's right, it means like over 600 so correct if you have fast acting insulin, otherwise get ye to the ER. Type 1 diabetes- Paradigm 523 w/ Humalog and RT Sensor Severe GERD and Gastroparesis- Prevacid, Domperidone, Zofran & Carafate as needed Asthma- Advair 500/50, Qvar, Albuterol, Singular, Xolair Re: what does it mean when the bd blood sugar montior reads hi When it reads HI it is usually indicative of a meter error. If not, then you are close to death. See a physican. But I would test with another meter immediately following the HI. Re: what does it mean when the bd blood sugar montior reads hi If your meter reads "HI", then you should wash your hands and check it again. If it still reads high, that means your glucose is over 600 (over 33 mmol) and you need to call your doctor and go to the emergency room. If you are not already in DKA, then you are certainly well on your way. Continue reading >>
6 Things To Do If Your Blood Sugar Is Too High
Grapefruit also has a low glycemic index (GI), around 25, which means it doesn't raise blood sugar as quickly or as much as high-GI foods like white bagel (72) or even a banana (48) or watermelon (72). (The highest GI score is 100.) A 2006 study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food, found that people who ate grapefruit (juice or half a fruit) before a meal had a lower spike in insulin two hours later than those taking a placebo, and fresh grapefruit was associated with less insulin resistance. All 91 patients in the 12-week study were obese, but they did not necessarily have type 2 diabetes. While the results are promising in those without diabetes, blood-sugar reactions to food can vary widely, so if you have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, test your blood sugar after eating grapefruit to make sure it can be part of your healthy eating plan. Getty Images Blood sugar is a tricky little beast. Yes, you can get a high reading if you throw caution to the wind and eat several slices of cake at a wedding. The problem is that you can also have a high blood sugar reading if you follow every rule in the type 2 diabetes handbook. That's because it's not just food that affects blood sugar. You could have a cold coming on, or stress may have temporarily boosted your blood sugar. The reading could be wrong, and you need to repeat it. Or it could mean that your medicine is no longer working, and it's time to try a new one. The point is, it's the pattern that matters, not a single reading. Whatever you do, don't feel bad or guilty if you have a high blood sugar reading. A 2004 study found that blood sugar monitoring often amplifies feelings of being a "success" or "failure" at diabetes, and when readings are consistently high, it can trigger feelings of anxiety or self-bla Continue reading >>
Diabetic Coma
Print Overview A diabetic coma is a life-threatening diabetes complication that causes unconsciousness. If you have diabetes, dangerously high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) or dangerously low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can lead to a diabetic coma. If you lapse into a diabetic coma, you're alive — but you can't awaken or respond purposefully to sights, sounds or other types of stimulation. Left untreated, a diabetic coma can be fatal. The prospect of a diabetic coma is scary, but fortunately you can take steps to help prevent it. Start by following your diabetes treatment plan. Symptoms Before developing a diabetic coma, you'll usually experience signs and symptoms of high blood sugar or low blood sugar. High blood sugar (hyperglycemia) If your blood sugar level is too high, you may experience: Increased thirst Frequent urination Fatigue Nausea and vomiting Shortness of breath Stomach pain Fruity breath odor A very dry mouth A rapid heartbeat Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) Signs and symptoms of a low blood sugar level may include: Shakiness or nervousness Anxiety Fatigue Weakness Sweating Hunger Nausea Dizziness or light-headedness Difficulty speaking Confusion Some people, especially those who've had diabetes for a long time, develop a condition known as hypoglycemia unawareness and won't have the warning signs that signal a drop in blood sugar. If you experience any symptoms of high or low blood sugar, test your blood sugar and follow your diabetes treatment plan based on the test results. If you don't start to feel better quickly, or you start to feel worse, call for emergency help. When to see a doctor A diabetic coma is a medical emergency. If you feel extreme high or low blood sugar signs or symptoms and think you might pass out, call 911 or your local emergency nu Continue reading >>
Meter Reading Of High
Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please,join our community todayto contribute and support the site. This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies. What does it mean when your meter reading simply says high? I am worried to death about my husband. Please help. For the One Touch meters, a reading of "High" means a blood glucose level of over 600 which is considered a medical emergency. Did he test more than once? Did he also perform a control test (with the control solution) to make sure the meter is functioning correctly? Double check to make sure the code on the strip container matches the code on the meter (if the meter requires one)? There are quite a few things you can do to ensure that the reading is accurate before panicking. If it does turn out that he's consistently getting the "High" as a reading after doing the above and re-testing a couple of times, you should insist he contact his doctor immediately. if he's still reading 'high' then you need to take him to hospital to get those bg levels down I ate a banana today and had a reading of 505. That didn't quite compute so I washed my hands. I was 250. I didn't think I bolused enough for the banana, which was why I was testing. But even so, 250 is a lot better than 505! So, yes. wash his hands. If he's getting HI numbers a lot, or a HI is not going down even after treatment (which means insulin, if he doesn't have insulin you need to get to a doctor who does have it). It's time for an emergency visit. I've had the odd HI as I've learned about this D thing, and it's not fun. Feels yucky and you simply can't drink enough water! But mine always were attributed to something obvious. Too much to drink, forgetting insulin, crazy food. things like that. And they always came down within a Continue reading >>
Blood Glucose Readings: What They Mean
Source: Web exclusive: June 2011 When you have diabetes, perhaps the most important thing you need to know is the level of your blood glucose, also known as your blood sugar. Since many factors can raise or lower your blood glucose, you may have to check it several times a day. But once you obtain a blood glucose reading, what exactly does it mean? Crunch those numbers When you test a drop of your blood with a glucose meter, the big number that pops onto the screen refers to the number of millimoles (mmol) of glucose per litre (L) of your blood. A millimole (mmol) is one-thousandth of a mole, which is a standard unit for measuring the mass of molecules. And if that’s not already confusing enough, the United States uses a completely different system than Canadians for measuring blood glucose. South of the border, blood glucose is measured in milligrams per decilitre (mg/dL). This can sometimes be rather bewildering, especially if you’re brand new to diabetes and researching your disease on the Internet. “I tell people to go to a Canadian site first,” says Tabitha Palmer, a certified diabetes educator at the Centre for Clinical Research in Halifax. Know your targets So what numbers should you be looking for? Your target reading before meals should be between 4 and 7. Your blood sugar normally spikes two hours after a meal, so between 5 and 10 is a good range after you eat. Besides food, other factors that can cause your blood sugar to go up or down include exercise, illness, medications and stress. Your blood glucose readings are hands-down the best way to monitor whether or not your diabetes is generally well managed. "They really help the physicians and educators if we’re trying to look at whether you need to have your medication, insulin or mealtime adjusted, Continue reading >>
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Accuchek Performa Unusual Test Results ( Hi / Lo )
Accuchek Performa Glucometer shows some unusual results. Most of the common people they don’t know what it is and what they want to do. HI Blood glucose may be higher than the measuring range of the system. If the result showing “HI” Your blood glucose maybe over 600mg ( 33.3mmol/L ) The high blood sugar is also called Hyperglycaemia. This is an emergency. Especially if you aren’t already diagnosed with diabetes or under a doctor’s care. It’s an emergency not because those very high blood sugars will lead to complications. two different disorders that can occur when your blood sugar is very high that can kill you within hours. One is diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). This is a condition that usually occurs in people who are not making any insulin at all. Usually this means someone with a diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes. The symptoms of DKA are high blood sugars (300 mg/dl or higher ) and excessive thirst, frequent urination, nausea and vomiting, Abdominal pain, loss of appetite, Weakness or fatigue, shortness of breath, fruity-scented breath, and confusion. Under medical supervision DKA can managed by intravenous insulin and fluids. The other dangerous condition associated with very high blood sugars is the hyperosmolar hyperglycemic State.(HHS) Untreated this condition leads to coma and death. HHS may develop over a course of days or weeks, unlike DKA which develops suddenly. Symptoms include very high blood sugar (over 600 mg/dl) and: drowsiness and lethargy, delirium, coma, seizures, visual changes or disturbances, hemiparesis (one sided paralysis), and sensory deficits. Patients with HHS do not typically report abdominal pain, which is often seen in DKA. ———————– LO Blood glucose may be lower than the measuring range of the system. Also known as Continue reading >>
Ask Dr. Joi – Questions About Glucose Meters From Our Readers
Interacting with ADW customers is one of the best parts of my job. As the staff veterinarian at ADW, I get great access to lots of diabetic pet owners and then I can translate our talks into newsletters that may be of value to all of you. Here is a small sampling of the email encounters I’ve had in just the last few days. Maybe you, too, will pick up something new. What does it mean when a glucose meter reads “hi” or “lo”? When a glucose meter gives the reading “hi” or “high” it means that the glucose level is above whatever maximum level the meter can read. In the past, most meters topped out at about 500 mg/dl. The AlphaTRAK 2 meter can read up to levels of 750 mg/dl. Honestly, any number over 500 is not good! If a meter reads “lo” it probably is below 20 mg/dl. You need to read the fine print of whichever meter you use, but for most meters “lo” is 20 or less. This, too, is a crummy and dangerous number to have! Does the number on the test strip bottle have anything to do with the glucose level? I hadn’t ever thought too closely as to why various batches (both human and pet calibrated meters) are coded differently. This client had a good question! For decades I had simply accepted that we just do it – change the code for a new bottle or change the code to match the number for the species on the bottle. The coding has to do with the calibration for that batch of test strips. It is certainly a potential source of error if the user doesn’t change the code when a new batch of test strips is opened. Some human glucose meters are getting away from changing the code bottle to bottle and I imagine that, in time pet glucose meters will follow suit. Nonetheless, for the pet glucose meters you need to code for the species (ie the AlphaTRAK meter) Continue reading >>
What Do You Do When The Meter Reads Hi?
This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More. DD just had her first HI reading ever. She washed her hands and checked again, and it was still HI. I wasn't here, but my dh changed her set and gave a correction. She was on her first Mio ever (6 mm, on her bum), and we suspect it went bad or pulled partway out; when he changed it, he put in a Silhouette, which is what she's always used before. I think he then gave a correction based on an assumed BG of 600. Checked blood ketones and head a measurement of 0.2, so no immediate problem there. - If the meter reads HI, how do you calculate the correction? - Do you do anything else besides change the set and encourage water? DD just had her first HI reading ever. She washed her hands and checked again, and it was still HI. I wasn't here, but my dh changed her set and gave a correction. She was on her first Mio ever (6 mm, on her bum), and we suspect it went bad or pulled partway out; when he changed it, he put in a Silhouette, which is what she's always used before. I think he then gave a correction based on an assumed BG of 600. Checked blood ketones and head a measurement of 0.2, so no immediate problem there. - If the meter reads HI, how do you calculate the correction? - Do you do anything else besides change the set and encourage water? For general highs that can't be explained by food or other problems we give a correction via shot first, then change set. I always think it's wise to KNOW the insulin is going in when that high. We've not had a HI, so I can't help on the calculation part, sorry. Hope things settle quickly. Correcting for 600 was the right thing to do, but it should be done via shot.. with .2 ketones that's a pretty good sign that the high is from Continue reading >>
What Does Hi Mean On My Meter Reading?
Diabetes Forum The Global Diabetes Community Find support, ask questions and share your experiences. Join the community I have a Nexus RX Glucose monitoring device and today tested my blood sugar. Earlier I had a reading of "29". An hour or two later I tested again and just got "Hi" displayed. What does this mean? Do I need to take tablets to control my blood sugar? It means you blood sugar is either A) over 33 mmol which is very high or B) you had a faulty test strip or a contaminated strip-I'd check again to make sure-if it still says 'HI' then I would seek medical help. Joe Sweatthang Type 2 Well-Known Member I have a Nexus RX Glucose monitoring device and today tested my blood sugar. Earlier I had a reading of "29". An hour or two later I tested again and just got "Hi" displayed. What does this mean? Do I need to take tablets to control my blood sugar? Did you eat in between the readings? I would retest as stated above. It also depends on whether these test were taken before eating or shortly afterwards I agree, from your profile I see you not on any Medication, you need some to get levels under control If you have any doubts make sure you are testing with freshly washed hands. If the result is still showing these high numbers, I agree with the other posters. Seek medical help soon. Hi. You do need to be on some medication quite urgently. Do see the GP soon or if you feel unwell then go to A&E. In the meantime keep the carbohydrates down and drink plenty of water. Are you overweight or normal weight? If normal or underweight your T2 diagnosis may need to be checked out. I would also add that going to the pharmacy if possible to purchase Ketostix and testing for ketones would be very wise in these circumstances. I'd agree Andy but if it was possible to check for ket Continue reading >>
Accu Check Says Hi | Diabetic Connect
You are correct on most meters it is a reading over 600 on some it is 650. If you have your owners manual it will tell you what the high reading is. If you don't, you can call the 800 number on the back of the meter and they will help you. Type1Lou is correct abount carb couning. I started counting carbs 30 yrs ago to lose weight. Recently I was prediagnosed in Sept 2011 with high blood sugar of 250. In Dec. 2011 my doctor gave me a test kit. My tests varried from 110 to 185. These tests continued for about 5 weeks.Oh, I only test once a day ant 4am. I kept a record of what I ate and discovered the less carbs the lower the sugar. Also, I talked to other people with D and was told to lower my carbs. As of now, I keep my carbs down to 60 grms a day and for the last three days my b/s has been at 116. I also lost a lot of weight, and I do exercise about 10 to 15 min a day riding a stationary bike. I thought I was having faulty readings but didn,t know how to find out. How do you know if your meter is correct? I use the Bayer Contour. I also keep tract of the sugar and sodium in foods Talked to the nurse yesterday and got bumped up to 30 units. Last night was 327 before dinner, morning reading was 241. Tried to eat a healthy dinner Wife boiled a chicken, stirred in some hot sauce and seasonings, and added some lettuce & lime. Had a Sprite Zero instead of sweet tea or a regular soda, and felt pretty good when I finally went to bed. I appreciate everyone's comments and concern. It means a lot to know that if I have a question, there are plenty of helping voices on here to lend their knowledge. You may also wish to begin counting your carbs since it is the carbs that you eat that convert to sugar in your blood. I weigh around 120 lbs and allow myself 120 grams of carb per day. Continue reading >>
What Do I Do If My Glucometer (diabetes Meter) Reads "hi"?
What do I do if my glucometer (diabetes meter) reads "HI"? Wash hands try again when she reads the table always calls you will always be high dr. If you anotyher meter to check that one, but if not, call your doctor or go to the Emergency Room Re-test, and if she still reads high, you should call your doctor. The meter is normally read-only Hi, if your blood sugar is 500 + range, which is dangerous. If you are a bit sleepy or confused, call 911 with your doctor, you should reduce your blood sugar in the blood, insulin is the best choice for your normal blood, exercise and healthy diet also recommend doing. say "hi" back! jk, jk. Seriously. Wash your hands, so double-check. a check on a finger and another on the other (safer). if it still says "Hello", so there are at least 500 (or 600, depending on the meter). Take lots of insulin and eat only foods without carbohydrates (meat, cheese, eggs. These things) for the next few hours. Exercise lowers blood sugar, but not much. I would not recommend it, and I'm sure the doctor does not want, but alcohol (mainly wine and beer in carbohydrates) is lower as well (this is a moment of desperation and desperate measures are required) if you did any of the above and he is going down in all of 1-2 hours to get a doctor (and do not say he had alcohol lol). I hope you will take care of it. Continue reading >>
Is There A Glucose Meter That Read A Higher Than 600mg/dl?
Portable glucometers are designed for self-monitoring blood glucose levels for patients. They are deliberately topped off at 600mg/dl for two reasons: 1) not accurate enough; 2) if a patient is hyperglycemic enough to reach near the top limit, he or she ought to be seeing a physician long before getting to that level. To answer your question specifically, no there are no portable glucometers that exceed 600mg/dl that I can recall. If someone recently has introduced a meter that is independent of hematocrit, allowing you to dilute the blood sample, you should be able to read as high a reading as you wish. In the absence of the above option, if you have access to a clinical lab style machine or a bench-top Beckman Glucometer, which uses glucose oxidase reagent, you can measure any level you wish by simply diluting the sample and keeping track of dilution factor - claimed reliable range in this machine is 20-400mg/dl but I have not had much of an issue up to over 600mg/dl. Of course, with dilutions, there is no limit. Caveat: you will need larger volume of blood sample and it works more reliably if you separate serum/plasma from the cells by spinning the blood. [Come to think of it, there was a portable glucometer designed by one of our faculty members over a couple of decades ago, which used a membrane with glucose oxidase and the system worked remarkably well with no practical limits (I used it up to 1200mg/dl). Eli Lilli bough the rights to produce it consumers but shelfed it because it really worked way too well and did not require any consumable supplies. The membrane lasted well over a year, the only other solution required was glucose to standardize the meter (depending on the concentration of glucose in standard, one could have a reliable reading range of their cho Continue reading >>
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High? What Your Glucose Meter May Know, But Isn't Sharing
Your glucose meter might be keeping secrets from you. If and when you see a message on the screen alerting you to a "High" blood sugar, the meter probably knows more than it's telling you, as in the exact numerical value associated with that warning. But the device makers decided that we don't need that information... This came to light (in our brains, at least) following the March 25 announcement that almost two million LifeScan OneTouch VerioIQ meters were being recalled across the globe. LifeScan issued warnings on three brands of its OneTouch meters, totaling over 1.8 million meters worldwide! About 90,000 of its popular VerioIQ meters here in the U.S., part of the 1.2 million of those meters sold globally, and two brands sold outside the States: the OneTouch® Verio®Pro consumer meter and VerioPro+ professional meter. The reason for the recall? The meter software isn't properly registering extremely high blood sugars. At a certain point the meter shuts down with no warning and without alerting you to the hyperglycemic danger. The number you have to reach for this to happen: 1024 mg/dL (or 56.8 mmol to those outside the U.S.)! Geez, the number 1024 is oddly specific... Like many meters, LifeScan's units only show a numerical value for anything between 20-600, while anything outside that range just displays an "Extreme Low Glucose (below 20 mg/dL)" or "Extreme High Glucose (above 600 mg/dL)" message. So, who would have thought the meter actually knows when you've tipped past 1023? Maybe our meters are smarter than we give them credit for, despite the fact that they're sometimes a bit off thanks to that pesky +/-20% accuracy standard that we don't think is good enough. Why No Numbers? LifeScan confirmed our suspicions: Yes, their meters can track your blood sugar's n Continue reading >>
