Treating Low or High Blood Glucose (Sugar)
Taking care of your diabetes is a balance…
When the balance is tipped, it can cause your blood glucose to be too high or too low.
Treating Low Blood Glucose
What is low blood glucose?
Low blood glucose is when your blood glucose is below 70 mg/dL.
Low blood glucose is serious. Treat low blood glucose right away.
Call 911 if:
You cannot chew or swallow.
You cannot help yourself and have no one to help you.
You think you are having a medical emergency.
What are signs of low blood glucose?
How do I treat low blood glucose?
Step 2: Wait 15 minutes.
Step 3: Check your blood glucose again.
Step 4: My new blood glucose is:
Below 80 mg/dL: repeat steps 1-3 until your blood glucose is above or equal to 80 mg/dL.
Above or equal to 80 mg/dL: eat your next scheduled meal or snack to stop your blood glucose from going low again.
Treating High Blood Glucose
What is high blood glucose?:
High blood glucose is when your blood glucose is above 180 mg/dL.
How do I treat high blood glucose?:
First, are you taking your diabetes medicine as planned?
No, I am not: taking diabetes medicine can treat high blood glucose. Follow your diabetes medicine plan. Recheck your blood glucose 2 hours after you take your medicine.
Yes, I am: what to do next depends on your blood glucose number.
My blood glucose is greater than 250 mg/dL: contact your healthcare team right away to ask how you should lower your blood glucose safely.
My blood glucose is between 180-250 mg/dL, follow steps 1-3 below:
Step 1: Drink 1 or 2 full glasses of water.
Drinking water can help keep your blood glucose in a healthy range.
Step 2: Get active for 15-20 minutes.
This will help your body use the glucose in your blood for energy. This can lower your blood glucose.
Examples of ways to get active:
Walk
Swim
Bike
Dance
Follow a exercise video
Step 3: Check your blood glucose at least twice a day for the next 2 days.
Any blood glucose above 250 mg/dL: contact your healthcare team right away to ask how you should lower your blood glucose safely.
Blood glucose still 180-250 mg/dL after 2 days: contact your healthcare team and report your numbers.
Blood glucose stays 70-180 mg/dL: success! Continue to follow your diabetes medicine plan.