As such, high blood sugar, or hyperglycemia as it is also called, occurs when the body is unable to get sugar from the blood into the cells in the correct way. Generally speaking, this is due to a shortage of insulin.
In that sense, there are different factors that contribute to raising blood sugar. For example, diets with poor carbohydrate control and a sedentary lifestyle are the main causes of this problem. However, there are other frequent causes that can further alter high glucose, such as not using the correct dose of insulin, forgetting to use hypoglycemic medications, suffering from a respiratory infection, consuming drugs or being pregnant.
To regulate sugar levels in the long term, it is crucial to define several points, such as the foods that are eaten, the times in which the main dishes are eaten and the preparation of the same. Regarding time, it should be borne in mind that during the day there are three main meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.
However, when a situation occurs suddenly and with symptoms such as cold sweats, blurred vision, muscle weakness, frequent palpitations, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, stomach pain, and ketones in the urine, it is important to act with care. speed, because otherwise you run the risk of diabetic coma and other complications such as diabetic neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy, kidney or heart problems and hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome.
In this way, the specialized magazine Better with Health, points out some emergency measures that help to immediately stabilize the body, against blood sugar levels:
Administer insulin
This is the basic measure that should be done when there are high levels of sugar in people with type 1 or 2 diabetes. Administering this substance is very important when there are more than 250 milligrams of glucose per deciliter of blood, since this condition it can progress easily and lead to diabetic coma.
To perform this procedure, you must first measure your blood sugar. If it is evident that it is very high, the best thing to do is go immediately to a medical center. But if it’s elevated, but not extreme, a dose of insulin should be given to fix the problem.
It is important to note that significant improvement will not be seen until about two to three hours after insulin has been given.. Therefore, you should avoid applying a new dose because it can cause a collapse, and could even drop blood sugar abruptly.
Drinking water
One of the most common reasons why blood sugar levels rise is dehydration. Therefore, when you do not drink enough water, some components of the blood, such as glucose, tend to become more concentrated. Thus, experts advise drinking plenty of water, especially when symptoms begin. This until more urine is produced and the excess blood glucose is eliminated.
Do exercise
It can be counterintuitive in an emergency situation, however, exercise is an effective means of lowering blood glucose levels. Just taking a 15-minute walk is enough to have a positive impact on this condition. If a person takes insulin and still has very high blood sugar, it is not recommended to exercise before administering the dose, because otherwise, this could increase the level of ketones and cause an adverse effect.