How to Handle or Treat High Blood Sugar

Simply put: You must treat high blood sugar quickly. High blood sugar, or hyperglycemia (hyperglycemia.html), is usually the result of poor diabetes management. However, it can also be unintentional, such as eating more than you should, or working out a little harder than expected. So now that it has happened, what is the best way to treat high glucose levels?

While rare, this condition can be quite serious. The American Diabetes Association recommends first checking your urine for ketones. The trigger for this check is if you have a blood glucose level above 240 mg/dL.

Ketones are a waste product of the body that is produced when there is not enough insulin. The presence of ketones could signify that you have ketoacidosis, a very serious condition that can lead to a coma and possibly death.

If you find ketones, you should contact your doctor. Ketoacidosis is most common in type 1 diabetics.

Assuming there are no ketones, some lifestyle changes are all that is needed to lower the sugar levels. Exercise is a great way to lower blood sugar. Lowering the amount of food you eat and/or making changes in your diet is also very beneficial. A dietician can be helpful in retooling your eating habits.