Learn more about the basics of diabetes, insulin, and more.
High Blood Sugar
Glossary
Carbohydrate
One of the three main nutrients in food. Foods that provide carbohydrates include starches, breads, vegetables, fruits, milk products, and sugars.
One of the three main nutrients in food. Foods that provide carbohydrates include starches, breads, vegetables, fruits, milk products, and sugars.
What causes hyperglycemia?
Here are some things that may cause your blood sugar to increase:
- Food
- Not taking enough diabetes medicine
- Emotional stress
- Not taking the right diabetes medicine
- Extra sugar made by the liver
- Getting less exercise than usual
- Physical stress (being sick or in pain)
Symptoms of hyperglycemia
The tricky thing about hyperglycemia is that you can feel just fine even though your blood sugar may be high. This is why it is important to test your blood sugar regularly. Some of the most common symptoms of hyperglycemia are:
- More hunger or thirst than usual
- Dry or itchy skin
- Feeling tired or sleepy
- Blurred vision
- Frequent infections
- Slow healing of cuts or sores
- Having to urinate often, especially at night
What to do if you experience hyperglycemia
Controlling your blood sugars can be challenging. You're bound to get frustrated if you're doing the work and still testing high. If your blood sugar is spiking after meals, it is important to get your after-meal blood sugars under control. To do this, you need to balance your food and insulin exactly. Both the timing and the amounts play a part. Here are some steps to help you look closer at how you balance food and insulin:
- Figure out exactly when the problem is happening: Keep a log book of your blood sugar levels.
- Troubleshoot food: Track what and how much you eat. If you are counting carbohydrates in your food, are you estimating correctly?
- Troubleshoot insulin: Keep track of how much and when you take insulin and share with your healthcare provider in case your dosing needs adjusting.
- Consider other possible causes: How much insulin you need and how your body uses that insulin can vary. Illness, emotional stress, and weight gain/loss can affect how your body uses insulin. Record these things along with your numbers in your log book to discuss with your healthcare provider.
Ketoacidosis
Ketoacidosis is a serious condition that usually occurs only in people with type 1 diabetes. When your body does not have enough insulin, it cannot use sugar as fuel, even though your blood sugar level may be high. Instead your body starts to burn fat for fuel, and ketones are produced. Too many ketones in your blood stream can make your body tissues too acidic. This can cause damage that may lead to severe illness and even death. Ketoacidosis can develop very quickly, especially when you're sick or during periods of severe stress. That's why it's so important to check your blood sugar and urine ketone levels several times a day when you are sick.
Ketoacidosis is not a condition you should try to treat yourself. Talk to your doctor about the symptoms of ketoacidosis. If you are ill and have ketones in your urine, call your doctor immediately. If you are unable to reach your doctor, go to the nearest emergency room right away.
Reference:
1. American Diabetes Association. Position Statement: Standards of medical care in diabetes — 2006. Diabetes Care. 2006;29(Suppl 1):S4-342.
1. American Diabetes Association. Position Statement: Standards of medical care in diabetes — 2006. Diabetes Care. 2006;29(Suppl 1):S4-342.
Important Safety Information
Humalog, Humalog Mix75/25, and Humalog Mix50/50 are for use in patients with diabetes to control high blood sugar. Humalog should be used with a longer-acting insulin, except when used in combination with sulfonylureas in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Humalog insulins are contraindicated during episodes of hypoglycemia and in patients sensitive to Humalog or one of its excipients. The safety and effectiveness of Humalog in patients less than 3 years of age have not been established. Safety and effectiveness of Humalog Mix75/25 and Humalog Mix50/50 in patients less than 18 years of age have not been established. There are no clinical studies of the use of Humalog insulins in pregnancy or nursing mothers.
Potential side effects associated with the use of all insulins include low blood sugar, weight gain, low blood potassium, changes in fat tissue at the site of injection, and allergic reactions, both general and local. Humalog Mix75/25 and Humalog Mix50/50 should not be mixed with another insulin. Starting or changing insulin therapy should be done cautiously and only under medical supervision.
Humalog insulins are available by prescription only. See the Humalog, Humalog Mix75/25, and Humalog Mix50/50 Patient Product Information for important facts about these products.
Humalog is a registered trademark of Eli Lilly and Company. Humalog Mix75/25 and Humalog Mix50/50 are trademarks of Eli Lilly and Company.
Humalog, Humalog Mix75/25, and Humalog Mix50/50 are for use in patients with diabetes to control high blood sugar. Humalog should be used with a longer-acting insulin, except when used in combination with sulfonylureas in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Humalog insulins are contraindicated during episodes of hypoglycemia and in patients sensitive to Humalog or one of its excipients. The safety and effectiveness of Humalog in patients less than 3 years of age have not been established. Safety and effectiveness of Humalog Mix75/25 and Humalog Mix50/50 in patients less than 18 years of age have not been established. There are no clinical studies of the use of Humalog insulins in pregnancy or nursing mothers.
Potential side effects associated with the use of all insulins include low blood sugar, weight gain, low blood potassium, changes in fat tissue at the site of injection, and allergic reactions, both general and local. Humalog Mix75/25 and Humalog Mix50/50 should not be mixed with another insulin. Starting or changing insulin therapy should be done cautiously and only under medical supervision.
Humalog insulins are available by prescription only. See the Humalog, Humalog Mix75/25, and Humalog Mix50/50 Patient Product Information for important facts about these products.
Humalog is a registered trademark of Eli Lilly and Company. Humalog Mix75/25 and Humalog Mix50/50 are trademarks of Eli Lilly and Company.
