What is a dangerous blood sugar level? What are the strategies to maintain blood sugar balance?

If you have diabetes, you probably know that living with this condition is like walking a tightrope. Staying in the range without high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) and low sugar (hyperglycemia) is a constant balancing act. But what blood sugar levels are actually dangerous? This article will explore the question. We’ll give you tips on how to help you manage the ups and downs of diabetes, literally!

The risk of hyperglycemia: what is the dangerous rate?

High blood sugar means that there is too much sugar in the blood because the body lacks insulin. This can happen for many reasons! These include not taking enough insulin externally, getting too little exercise, eating too much, or even being stressed. Hormonal changes and lack of sleep also have health consequences. High blood sugar is dangerous, but it’s important to remember that high blood sugar is especially dangerous over long periods of time (unless you’re in DKA). This means that, for the most part, blood sugar levels at the time of diagnosis will not cause long-term complications. The high you saw last week from eating a little ice cream won’t affect you in the long run.

But chronic, long-term high blood sugar (think lifelong diabetes with a stable average blood sugar of 200 mg/dL) will lead to diabetes complications in most people.

What is high blood sugar and what is the dangerous level?

Blood sugar is considered high in people with diabetes once it exceeds the recommended limit of 120 mg/dL, however, a blood sugar level of 145 mg/dL will generally not cause any problems (particularly if you sleep in or plan to do some exercise). For most people, hyperglycemia becomes symptomatic once blood sugar reaches between 180 and 200 mg/dL.

Blood sugars over 200 mg/dL should be treated immediately with insulin (and water and exercise are helpful too), and any blood sugars over 250 mg/dL will require you to have a urine test for ketones, to make sure you don’t escalate into diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). ). This occurs when the body’s blood becomes acidic due to prolonged and dangerously high levels of blood sugar and high levels of ketones in the blood. It can be fatal if not treated immediately.

risk of high blood sugar

Low blood sugar can become more serious faster. If left untreated, it can quickly lead to diabetic coma and death. Hypoglycemia will not cause permanent complications in most cases. On the other hand, if someone has not experienced brain swelling and brain injury resulting from falling into a diabetic coma, then it is dangerous. But otherwise it leads to frequent and short-term complications in the form of physical inability to work during storage. They need fast-acting glucose (or a shot of glucagon) as a treatment.

Symptoms of low blood sugar can affect different people at different times, and some people may not feel low blood sugar at all (hypoglycemia), which can be very dangerous. Signs of low blood sugar are confusion, anger or frustration, sweating, fast pulse, hunger, dizziness, and trouble speaking. Blood glucose monitoring systems and diabetes alert dogs can help people detect their depression early, before it becomes life-threatening.

What is low blood sugar and is it dangerous?

What is a dangerous blood sugar level? For people with normal diabetes, hypoglycemia means anything less than 80 mg/dL (for pregnant women, who need tighter control, hypoglycemia is less than 60 mg/dL). Low blood glucose is any reading less than 40 mg/dL. Anything less than 40 mg/dL is considered extremely dangerous and potentially fatal. A person is at greater risk of developing a diabetic coma if they fail to raise their blood sugar above 40 mg/dL for several hours. Therefore, hypoglycemia can become more serious more quickly. If left untreated, it can quickly lead to diabetic coma and death.

Tips to avoid high blood sugar and hypoglycemia

Walking the tightrope of living with diabetes isn’t easy. We have to work hard every day to make sure we don’t allow our blood sugar levels to go too high or too low, and that can be stressful. Here are some strategies to help keep your blood sugar in balance:

• Eat foods with a low glycemic index to keep your blood sugar stable.
• Cook at home, so you know all the ingredients for your meal.
• Maintain a routine and eat at the same times each day.
• Get enough sleep!
• Double check your insulin doses to make sure you are not taking too much or too little.
• If you count the carbs in a meal and dose insulin for those carbs, eat it all.
• Regularly check the expiration dates of your insulin.
• Always have fast-acting glucose and glucagon nearby.
• Take all insulin and diabetes medications as prescribed.
• Wear a CGM or get a diabetes alert dog to help detect hypoglycemia if you are unconscious.
• Choose a diabetes alert bracelet and learn how to naturally regulate your blood sugar levels by focusing on the right foods.
• Work with your doctor to increase or decrease your insulin needs as your life changes (puberty, pregnancy, aging, training for a race, etc.).
• Treat all types of high and low blood sugar early and often, before they become serious.