How to Lower Blood Sugar Levels Quickly in an Emergency: Tips and More (2024)

The fastest way to lower your blood sugar is to use rapid-acting insulin. Exercise is another quick and effective way. But in severe cases you should go to the hospital.

High blood sugar is known as hyperglycemia or high blood sugar. It can result indiabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), when insulin levels are low. DKA usually occurs in type 1 diabetes.

DKA is a medical emergency. The symptoms include:

  • shortness of breath
  • breath that smells fruity
  • nausea and vomiting
  • dry mouth

If you are not sure what to do, contact your doctor for instructions on how to administer a dose of insulin and for advice on whether you should go to the emergency room.

This article looks at ways to lower your blood sugar quickly, when to go to the emergency room or see a doctor, and tips for dealing with high blood sugar.

For early treatment you can take with youhigh blood sugarreduces and prevents complications, including DKA.

Some sources suggest that drinking water or eating a high-protein snack can quickly lower your blood sugar levels, although there isn't enough research to support this.

If you have high blood sugar and want to lower it quickly, try the following methods:

Take your insulin as prescribed

High blood sugar levels occur when your body has too littleinsulinor your body cannot use the insulin properly. Administering insulin can lower your blood sugar levels.

Discuss with your doctor how much rapid-acting insulin you should administer if your blood sugar levels are high.

You may want to check your blood sugar levels at least 30 minutes after you take insulin to make sure your blood sugar levels are dropping and nottoo low.

In these cases, you should only administer more correction insulin at least 3 hours later to prevent insulin overload and hypoglycemia.

Exercise

Exercise is a quick and effective way to lower blood sugar levels. Exercise can also lower your blood sugar levels24 hours or more. This is because it makes your body more sensitive to insulin.

Physical activity causes the body to need glucose for energy. As a result, the cells supply glucose to the muscles and blood sugar levels normally drop.

Important if your blood sugar level isruim 240 milligram pr. deciliter (mg/dl), check your urineA ketone. If ketones are present, do not exercise. Doing so could cause your blood sugar levels to rise even higher.

Although exercise is an effective way to lower your blood sugar levels during the day, some exercise, especially short bursts of strenuous activity, can briefly raise blood sugar levels.

This is because strenuous activity activates the body's stress response, releasing glucagon to strengthen muscles.

According toUniversity of MichiganA blood sugar level of 300 mg/dl or more can be dangerous. The university recommends calling a doctor if you have two consecutive readings of 300 mg/dl or more.

Call your doctor if you are concerned about symptoms of high blood sugar. They can give you advice and reassurance.

Make an appointment with your doctor if you have persistently high blood sugar levels. Symptoms of this include:

  • consistently highblood sugar level measurements
  • frequent urination
  • increased thirst
  • high sugar levels in the urine

Ask your doctor how often you should check your blood sugar levels and your ideal blood sugar levels.

»BUT:Living with diabetes? Discover our best resources.

High blood sugar can be very concerning because your body may start burning fat for energy instead of blood sugar.

This can cause DKA, which is a medical emergency. It can be fatal if not treated.

Symptoms that may indicate you need to go to the emergency room include:

  • ketones in your urine
  • confusion
  • nausea
  • shortness of breath
  • stomach ache
  • vomit
  • fruit-scented breath

DKA is a serious complication of type 1 diabetes. It occurs rarely in people with diabetestype 2 diabetesbut can still occur.

When to Call 911

If you or someone around you experiences any of the above symptoms related to diabetes, call 911 or take them to the nearest emergency room. Prompt treatment can improve results.

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Monitoring your blood sugar levels and treating hyperglycemia early can help prevent any complications.

Health problems can occur if someone has high blood sugar levels regularly and without treatment.

Examples of complications include:

  • called nerve damagediabetic neuropathy, which can affect sensations in the feet and hands
  • diabetic retinopathyor damage to the blood vessels in the eyes that affect vision
  • increased risk of kidney problems
  • increased risk of heart problems

By taking steps to keep your blood sugar levels at target levels, you can reduce the chance of these complications developing.

Find tips to prevent spikes in blood sugar levels.

Learn more about type 2 diabetes

What to eatEssentialBlood sugarMedicineInsulinMetformin

Here are some general guidelines for thisblood sugar intervals:

Blood sugarWhat to know
70 mg/dl of minderHypoglycemiaor low blood sugar. Eat a snack to raise blood sugar levels (for example, 1/2 cup of fruit juice, 1 tablespoon of honey or 2 tablespoons of raisins).
80-130 mg/dlIdeal preprandial range (before a meal).
180 mg/dl of lagerIdeal postprandial range (1-2 hours after the start of a meal).
240 mg/dl of hogerCheck your urine for ketones. Call your doctor if you notice moderate amounts of ketones after more than one test.

Read more about blood sugar measurement.

Most people can control their diabetes so that their blood sugar levels do not become too high. The following tips may help:

  • stay hydrated
  • follows yourtreatment regimen
  • eat a balanced diet
  • regular exercise
  • reduce stress
  • on a consistent sleep schedule
  • maintain a moderate weight

How to reverse hyperglycemia?

Hyperglycemia associated with type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease, so healthcare professionals prefer to use the term "remission" rather than "reversed" or "cured."

Doctors consider type 2 diabetes to be in remission if your blood sugar levels remain within range for at least three months without the use of glucose-lowering medications.

Discuss with your doctor whether and how you can bring your type 2 diabetes into remission.

Should you give sugar to someone with hyperglycemia?

Giving sugar to a person with hyperglycemia will not immediately worsen the condition. However, the best plan is to use insulin to lower your blood sugar levels. Discuss with your doctor how much insulin you should take in these cases.

It's also a good idea to check your blood sugar level about 30 minutes after you take insulin to make sure it's dropping and not getting too low.

How can I lower my hyperglycemia naturally?

High blood sugar levels, known as hyperglycemia, occur when your body does not produce enough insulin or does not use insulin effectively. Here are some lifestyle strategies to lower your blood sugar levels naturally:

  • Practice regularly:Regular exercise helps improve your body's insulin sensitivity so that your cells can better use the sugar in your blood.
  • Manage your carbohydrate intake:A low-carb diet helps prevent sugar peaks.
  • Add fiber to your diet:Fiber slows down your body's absorption of carbohydrates and sugar.
  • Drink water:Water helps flush excess sugar from your kidneys.
  • Deal with stress:Stress can affect your blood sugar levels. Yoga, meditation and other relaxation techniques can help.
  • Get enough sleep:A lack of sleep can increase your appetite and cortisol levels, which promote weight gain.

Is Blood Sugar Level 170 Hyperglycemia?

For a diagnosis of hyperglycemia, your blood sugar levels must be equalhigher than 125 mg/dlduring fasting and above 180 mg/dl 2 hours after a meal. This means that 170 mg/dl can be considered hyperglycemia if it occurs during fasting.

Is 140 a hyperglycemia?

A blood sugar level of 140 mg/dl can also indicate hyperglycemia if your blood sugar level is at this level during fasting.

What should I do if my blood sugar level is 250?

If your blood sugar level is 250 mg/dl, check your urine for ketones. Call your doctor if you find this on more than one test. You can purchase an over-the-counter urine test kit from your local pharmacy.

If you experience symptoms such as high blood sugar with vomiting and extreme thirst, go to the emergency room.Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)requires immediate medical treatment.

Insulin administration and exercise are two of the most common ways to lower blood sugar levels.

However, if someone has ketones in the urine or symptoms of high blood sugar, they may need to go to the emergency room.

How to Lower Blood Sugar Levels Quickly in an Emergency: Tips and More (2024)
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