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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Understanding The Results On Your Blood Glucose Meter Screen
Understanding the results on your blood glucose meter screen More than 30 millionnearly 1 in every 10Americans have diabetes. To help manage their condition, many people with diabetes use a small, portable glucose meter to measure the amount of sugar (glucose) in their blood. After pricking the skin with a sharp lancet (small needle), one places a drop of blood on a test strip inserted in the glucose meter. The glucose meter then displays the blood sugar level on the screen. People with low or high blood sugar readings need to make quick treatment decisions. If the blood sugar reading is low, the person needs to eat or drink a sugary food or beverage, like candy, glucose tablets, or orange juice. This helps raise the amount of sugar in the blood to normal limits. If the reading is high, the person may need to take more insulin. The extra insulin helps lower the amount of sugar in the blood. If the blood sugar reading is normal, no additional food or medicine is needed. Unfortunately, mistakes have been made when making these treatment decisions due to the way the blood sugar results are displayed on some glucose meter screens. For example, the blood sugar reading on the screen of an ACCU-CHEK Inform II glucose meter has been repeatedly misinterpreted when it was displayed as an unfamiliar abbreviation.1 People were expecting a numerical blood sugar value to appear on the results screen (Figure 1). But instead, the abbreviation RR LO (Figure 2) or CR LO appeared on the results screen. RR LO is an abbreviation for reportable range, low limit, which means the blood sugar is below normal. CR LO is an abbreviation for critical range, low limit, which means the blood sugar is critically below normal. When these abbreviations appear, the correct treatment action is to eat or Continue reading >>
Average Glucose, Standard Deviation, Cv, And Blood Sugar Variability | Diatribe
What do these numbers mean, whats the target, and how can they provide insight into better diabetes management? Example days included! Glucose monitoring is one of the most important tools in diabetes. Just like a speedometer in a car, glucose data helps inform key actions in diabetes take more or less medication, change food choices or timing, exercise, and more. Most of us think of glucose data in an immediate sense for guiding therapy decisions: How much insulin should I take right now? However, it also helps inform longer-term patterns: My blood sugar has been consistently high after breakfast for the past two weeks; why might that be and what can be done about it? If you have access to continuous glucose monitoring and ever downloaded your CGM or blood glucose meter ( BGM ), you might have noticed some of the following statistics: Last December, we covered time-in-range in two articles Kelly Close and Adam interviewed 15 experts and then wrote What do experts think about goals? and Adam took a personal look at all his CGM data and wrote, with lots of advice from many of the same experts, Whats an achievable time-in-range goal with diabetes? This article is about the first three statistics: average (mean) glucose, SD, and CV. The information below on mean glucose, SD, and CV is relevant to all readers who monitor their glucose, though its often not available on the device itself you must usually download your meter or CGM to a paired app or computer software. At the end of this article, weve listed options for some of the most commonly used devices. In this piece, weve turned yet again to the experts! This article integrates feedback from a dozen of the worlds smartest thinkers (endocrinologists, educators, researchers) on glucose monitoring and glucose variability Continue reading >>
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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 >>
Blood Sugar Testing: Why, When And How
Blood sugar testing is an important part of diabetes care. Find out when to test your blood sugar level, how to use a testing meter, and more. If you have diabetes, self-testing your blood sugar (blood glucose) can be an important tool in managing your treatment plan and preventing long-term complications of diabetes. You can test your blood sugar at home with a portable electronic device (glucose meter) that measures sugar level in a small drop of your blood. Why test your blood sugar Blood sugar testing — or self-monitoring blood glucose — provides useful information for diabetes management. It can help you: Judge how well you're reaching overall treatment goals Understand how diet and exercise affect blood sugar levels Understand how other factors, such as illness or stress, affect blood sugar levels Monitor the effect of diabetes medications on blood sugar levels Identify blood sugar levels that are high or low When to test your blood sugar Your doctor will advise you on how often you should check your blood sugar level. In general, the frequency of testing depends on the type of diabetes you have and your treatment plan. Type 1 diabetes. Your doctor may recommend blood sugar testing four to eight times a day if you have type 1 diabetes. You may need to test before meals and snacks, before and after exercise, before bed, and occasionally during the night. You may also need to check your blood sugar level more often if you are ill, change your daily routine or begin a new medication. Type 2 diabetes. If you take insulin to manage type 2 diabetes, your doctor may recommend blood sugar testing two or more times a day, depending on the type and amount of insulin you need. Testing is usually recommended before meals, and sometimes before bedtime. If you manage type 2 Continue reading >>
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 >>
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 >>
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 >>
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 >>
What Does It Feel Like To Have High Blood Sugar Levels?
The human body naturally has sugar, or glucose, in the blood. The right amount of blood sugar gives the body's cells and organs energy. The liver and muscles produce some blood sugar, but most of it comes from food and drinks that contain carbohydrates. In order to keep blood sugar levels within a normal range, the body needs insulin. Insulin is a hormone that takes blood sugar and delivers it to the body's cells. Contents of this article: What does it feel like to have high blood sugar levels? Blood sugar is fuel for the body's organs and functions. But having high blood sugar doesn't provide a boost in energy. In fact, it's often the opposite. Because the body's cells can't access the blood sugar for energy, a person may feel tiredness, hunger, or exhaustion frequently. In addition, high sugar in the blood goes into the kidneys and urine, which attracts more water, causing frequent urination. This can also lead to increased thirst, despite drinking enough liquids. High blood sugar can cause sudden or unexplained weight loss. This occurs because the body's cells aren't getting the glucose they need, so the body burns muscle and fat for energy instead. High blood sugar can also cause numbness, burning, or tingling in the hands, legs, and feet. This is caused by diabetic neuropathy, a complication of diabetes that often occurs after many years of high blood sugar levels. What does high blood sugar mean for the rest of the body? Over time, the body's organs and systems can be harmed by high blood sugar. Blood vessels become damaged, and this can lead to complications, including: Damage to the eye and loss of vision Kidney disease or failure Nerve problems in the skin, especially the feet, leading to sores, infections, and wound healing problems Causes of high blood sugar Continue reading >>
- World's first diabetes app will be able to check glucose levels without drawing a drop of blood and will be able to reveal what a can of coke REALLY does to sugar levels
- Why do I have high blood sugar levels in the morning?
- Lower Blood Sugar Naturally to Prevent High Blood Sugar from Leading to Diabetes
Accu-chek Aviva Meter Error Screens | Accu-chek
Extreme temperatures. Move the meter to a more temperate area. If you see 3 dashes or hyphens, the meter is not coded or the code key is not inserted. Turn off the meter and make sure the code key is properly inserted. If this does not fix the problem, please contact Accu-Chek Customer Care . A battery icon means the battery power is low. Change the battery soon. Download the owner's booklet now and refer to Chapter 7, "Changing the Batteries." A battery icon means the battery power is low. Change the battery soon. Download the owner's booklet now and refer to Chapter 5, "Changing the Battery." "Set-up" means the meter is in the set-up mode, waiting for you to change or confirm settings. Download the owner's booklet now and refer to Chapter 5, "Using the Set-Up Mode." "Set" means the meter is in set mode, waiting for you to change or confirm settings. Download the owner's booklet now and refer to Chapter 4, "Meter Setup." If you see "code exp," the test strips expire at the end of the current month. Make sure the time and date in the meter are correct. If this does not fix the problem, please contact Accu-Chek Customer Care . If a test strip icon is flashing, the meter is ready for you to insert a test strip. If you see a blood drop and test strip, the meter is ready for a drop of blood or control solution. If you see the letters HI, your blood glucose may be higher than the measuring range of the system. Download the owner's booklet now and refer to Chapter 4, "Unusual Blood Glucose Results." If you see the letters LO, your blood glucose may be lower than the measuring range of the system. Download the owner's booklet now and refer to Chapter 4, "Unusual Blood Glucose Results." A star or asterisk means a marker was assigned to this test result. A star or asterisk mean Continue reading >>
5 Must-have Tools To Measure Your Blood Sugar
If you've just been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, you'll need some supplies to help you manage your blood sugar. These include: Blood Sugar Meter This device, also called a glucose meter or monitor, measures how much sugar (or glucose) is in a drop of your blood. It can tell you when your sugar is too low or too high. Talk to your doctor about what to do in those situations. Glucose meters can also show you how diet, exercise, stress, sickness, and your medications affect blood sugar. “Get the [one] that you feel comfortable and confident using,” says Jane Seley, a diabetes nurse practitioner at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Make sure the screen is large enough to read. And choose a meter that requires less than a microliter blood sample. “It’s much more comfortable,” Seley says. “You don’t have to stick yourself as deep. It’s much easier to be successful, and you won’t waste as many test strips.” Consider a meter that can download your readings to your smartphone, tablet, or computer. “You can see charts of how your blood sugars differ throughout the day,” Seley says. “It helps you make better decisions about things like when to exercise and what to have for breakfast.” Test Strips, Lancets, and Lancet Device Each small plastic strip contains chemicals that convert the sugar in your blood into an electric current that your meter can read. Wash your hands first, then put a test strip into your meter. Prick the side of your fingertip with a small needle called a lancet. The lancet fits inside a lancet device. About the shape and size of a pen, it’s spring-loaded to help you prick your finger easily with just the right amount of pressure. You then squeeze a single drop of blood onto the strip, and your meter measures the sugar. If you’r Continue reading >>
Know Your Blood Sugar Numbers: Use Them To Manage Your Diabetes
Checking your blood sugar, also called blood glucose, is an important part of diabetes care. This tip sheet tells you: why it helps you to know your blood sugar numbers how to check your blood sugar levels what are target blood sugar levels what to do if your levels are too low or too high how to pay for these tests Why do I need to know my blood sugar numbers? Your blood sugar numbers show how well your diabetes is managed. And managing your diabetes means that you have less chance of having serious health problems, such as kidney disease and vision loss. As you check your blood sugar, you can see what makes your numbers go up and down. For example, you may see that when you are stressed or eat certain foods, your numbers go up. And, you may see that when you take your medicine and are active, your numbers go down. This information lets you know what is working for you and what needs to change. How is blood sugar measured? There are two ways to measure blood sugar. Blood sugar checks that you do yourself. These tell you what your blood sugar level is at the time you test. The A1C (A-one-C) is a test done in a lab or at your provider’s office. This test tells you your average blood sugar level over the past 2 to 3 months. How do I check my blood sugar? You use a blood glucose meter to check your blood sugar. This device uses a small drop of blood from your finger to measure your blood sugar level. You can get the meter and supplies in a drug store or by mail. Read the directions that come with your meter to learn how to check your blood sugar. Your health care team also can show you how to use your meter. Write the date, time, and result of the test in your blood sugar record. Take your blood sugar record and meter to each visit and talk about your results with your h Continue reading >>
Diabetes-related High And Low Blood Sugar Levels
Diabetes-Related High and Low Blood Sugar Levels When you have diabetes , you may have high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia) or low blood sugar levels ( hypoglycemia ) from time to time. A cold, the flu, or other sudden illness can cause high blood sugar levels. You will learn to recognize the symptoms and distinguish between high and low blood sugar levels. Insulin and some types of diabetes medicines can cause low blood sugar levels. Learn how to recognize and manage high and low blood sugar levels to help you avoid levels that can lead to medical emergencies, such as diabetic ketoacidosis or dehydration from high blood sugar levels or loss of consciousness from severe low blood sugar levels. Most high or low blood sugar problems can be managed at home by following your doctor's instructions. You can help avoid blood sugar problems by following your doctor's instructions on the use of insulin or diabetes medicines, diet, and exercise. Home blood sugar testing will help you determine whether your blood sugar is within your target range . If you have had very low blood sugar, you may be tempted to let your sugar level run high so that you do not have another low blood sugar problem. But it is most important that you keep your blood sugar in your target range. You can do this by following your treatment plan and checking your blood sugar regularly. Sometimes a pregnant woman can get diabetes during her pregnancy. This is called gestational diabetes . Blood sugar levels are checked regularly during the pregnancy to keep levels within a target range. Children who have diabetes need their parents' help to keep their blood sugar levels in a target range and to exercise safely. Be sure that children learn the symptoms of both high and low blood sugar so they can tell other Continue reading >>
- World's first diabetes app will be able to check glucose levels without drawing a drop of blood and will be able to reveal what a can of coke REALLY does to sugar levels
- Why do I have high blood sugar levels in the morning?
- Lower Blood Sugar Naturally to Prevent High Blood Sugar from Leading to Diabetes
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 >>
