Low blood sugar High blood sugar When to call 911 How to learn more Everyone who has diabetes should wear a medical alert bracelet or necklace or - at the very least - carry a card in their wallet so that in an emergency, medical personnel will know about your diabetes and can make sure you get proper medical treatment. Low blood sugar The most common problem with diabetes is that the blood sugar may go too low. This is also known as hypoglycemia and is sometime referred to a insulin reaction. Low blood sugar may be caused by any of the following: Skipping or delaying a meal Not eating enough Diarrhea or vomiting Drinking too much alcohol Taking too much insulin or oral medication Exercising too much The symtoms of low blood sugar include: Hunger, nausea, headache Dizziness, shakiness, weakness Faintness, chills, sweatiness Confusion or irritability Fast heart beat Numbness around the lips or tongue Mood swings If you feel you have low blood sugar, you should take any one of these fast-acting sugar sources: Half a cup of fruit juice or nondiet carbonated soda 1 cup of skim milk 4-6 hard candies 3 teaspoons of table sugar Glucose tablets or gel It is a good idea to carry a source of fast-acting sugar with you. It may take as long as 10-15 minutes for your blood glucose levels to rise. Do not be impatient. If you do not feel better within 15-20 minutes, eat another source of sugar. If your blood sugar is still low, call your doctor or the nearest hospital emergency room. Return to top of page High blood sugar High blood sugar is also known as hyperglycemia. It occurs when your diabetes is not under control and your blood sugar levels rise too high. High blood sugar may be caused by any of the following: Eating too much Not following your meal plan Illness or infection Not exercising or exercising less than usual Forgetting to take your isulin or oral medication Taking some cough syprups, antacids, and laxatives containing sugar The symtoms of high blood sugar include: Extreme thirst Frequent urination Blurred vision Weakness or tiredness Fast breathing Dizziness Upset stomach Sometimes high blood sugar does not have noticeable symptoms. If you feel you have high blood sugar, you should: Contact your doctor or the nearest hospital emergrency room. If you are driving, pull over to the side of the road. Return to top of page When to call 911 If you find someone that you believe may be having a diabetic crisis, it is important that you not try to treat them yourself. Since high and low blood sugar have some of the same symptoms, it is difficult for a lay person to know what treatment is appropriate. The only way to be sure is to try to convince the person with diabetes to do a glucose monitoring and find out if their sugar is too high or too low. Never try to force juice or sugar on someone if they are very confused, or if they are unconsious. If you find anyone unconcious, call 911 or the emergency number for your area and request assistance. Be sure to notify the dispatcher that the person you're helping is diabetic so that the emergency medical crew can be prepared. Return to top of page How to learn more You can learn more about diabetes by attending a diabetes education class near you. They are frequently offered by hospitals and medical centers. Another option is to check out first aid courses offered by the Red Cross, YMCAs and YWCAs, or an adult education program at your area school. Return to top of page THE INVISIBLE EPIDEMIC | LEARN MORE ABOUT DIABETES | THE IMPACT OF DIABETES | ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAN HELP | BACK TO HEALTHWORKS MAINPAGE  © 1998 Prairie Public Broadcasting, Inc.