You may have other symptoms that are unique to you. Monitor your body closely so you can learn to see these symptoms as soon as they pop up. If you are vomiting or nauseous, go to the hospital immediately. These may be signs of extremely high blood sugar that could put you at risk of diabetic ketoacidosis,[3] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source sometimes called a diabetic coma. [4] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source
For example, if you just finished eating a big meal, that could be responsible for your increased levels of blood glucose.
As a general rule, if you have diabetes and your glucose is 250 mg/dl or higher, you should also check for ketones. [7] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source If you have ketones in your urine, contact your doctor immediately or go straight to the hospital.
Drink steadily, don’t chug. After the first glass, assess how you feel. Don’t keep forcing yourself to drink water if you feel queasy. Sports drinks can help balance your electrolytes and lower your blood sugar, but make sure you get a sugar-free version or your blood sugar will only increase. Water also can help flush out ketones, but be careful. Talk to your doctor if at all possible before you drink water if your urine showed the presence of ketones.
Keep moving for 5 to 10 minutes, then check your blood sugar again. Your doctor may also advise you to check for ketones in your urine. If your blood sugar is not dropping, is above 250 mg/dl, or you have ketones present, stop exercising immediately. Don’t exercise for more than 15 or 20 minutes – you don’t want your blood sugar to continue to drop. If you have urine ketones, do not engage even in moderate exercise, as it could worsen your condition. Get in touch with your doctor or go to the hospital immediately.
Check your blood sugar after the shower and see if it’s lowered at all. You may want to have another glass of water as well. Keep in mind that taking a warm shower requires glucose – and that your muscles need insulin to use that glucose. That means that if you don’t have enough insulin at the moment, your blood sugar level could actually increase.
Your doctor may want to bring you in for more tests or adjust your medications or treatment plan. Make sure you carefully document every instance of high blood sugar. If your diet and exercise aren’t to blame, you may need a different medication to help control your blood sugar.
A tablespoon of sugar-free peanut or almond butter will give you the dose of protein you need. You also might try eating a handful of almonds or a piece of cheese.
You can find smoothie recipes online. Experiment until you find the ones you like the best. Rotate the type of greens you use regularly so you don’t get bored with the taste. Having a serving of leafy greens several times a day can help stabilize your blood sugar over time, so you don’t have to deal with high blood sugar as often.
For example, try rolling almonds in cinnamon and roasting them for a tasty snack that will still support healthy blood-glucose levels.
Oats are a versatile food that can be used in many ways besides just a bowl of oatmeal. Be very careful when it comes to breads. While replacing white flour with whole grains is an improvement, 2 slices of whole grain bread can still raise your blood sugar by more than 2 tablespoons (29. 6 ml) of table sugar. Bread may also have added sugar. [17] X Research source
Plant-based foods have plenty of fiber, which slows the release of sugar in the bloodstream, helping to stabilize your blood sugar levels over time. Include plenty of plant-based foods in your diet, even if you’re not yet ready to give up meat and dairy. If you love dairy, know that full-fat milk and heavy cream contain less less sugar than the low-fat varieties. [19] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
Diabetic ketoacidosis is a serious condition and can be deadly. If your test reveals ketones in your urine, contact your doctor immediately.
You want to exercise at moderate intensity – generally, you should be able to carry on a conversation with someone while you’re walking. If you feel out of breath, slow down or stop. If you’re concerned about going out by yourself, find a friend or neighbor who’s willing to walk with you.
Make sure you warm up before exercising and cool down at the end. For example, if you’re walking for 15 minutes, you could walk at a slower pace for the first and last two minutes of your walk.
You also want to make sure that in attempting to stabilize your blood sugar with exercise, you don’t inadvertently cause it to drop too low. If you notice your blood sugar increasing, or dropping too low, stop exercising immediately.
