Type 2 Diabetes

Hyperglycemia

Hyperglycemia refers to chronically high blood glucose levels. Most medical professionals define hyperglycemia by using the blood glucose goals that you and your physician have established and combining those goals with the blood glucose target ranges set by the American Diabetes Association.

It's important to understand that you'll probably experience high blood glucose levels from time to time, despite your best efforts at control.

You can reduce your risk factors for complications related to hyperglycemia by doing the following:
          Maintaining your blood glucose levels within a normal range
          Keeping your blood pressure under control
          Controlling your blood fats (cholesterol and triglycerides)
          Avoiding/stopping smoking
          Increasing your physical activity
          Avoiding excess alcohol consumption
          Developing healthy eating habits and losing weight if necessary

Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia refers to dangerously low blood glucose levels that drop below 70 mg/dL. It is an acute complication of diabetes and occurs in individuals who use insulin or specific kinds of oral diabetes medication. If you use oral diabetes medications, ask your physician or diabetes educator whether hypoglycemia should be a concern.

To treat hypoglycemia, you must immediately:

Check your blood glucose level to determine the amount of carbohydrate that is needed to raise your blood glucose to a safe level.

Use the 15/15 rule: Consume 15 grams of carbohydrate (4 ounces of regular juice or soda, 1 tablespoon honey, 2 tablespoons raisins, 7 Life Savers®, 9 Sweet Tarts®, or 3-4 glucose tablets) and retest your blood glucose in 15 minutes. If it is still below 70 mg/dL, you should consume an additional 15 grams ofcarbohydrate. Following the 15/15 rule can help avoid over treatment and resulting hyperglycemia.

If you are not planning to have a meal within one to two hours after treating a hypoglycemic reaction, eat a snack containing 15-30 grams of carbohydrate to prevent another episode of hypoglycemia.

If hypoglycemia is not treated immediately, it can result in:

          Severe confusion and disorientation
          Unconsciousness
          Seizures
          Coma
          Death

Other tips for managing hypoglycemia include:

Keep glucose-containing products close by at all times.
Clearly label sugar-free products, in a format of your choosing, to distinguish them from regular products.

Reference

Sokol-McKay,D. A. (2015). What is the Difference Between Hyperglycemia and Hypoglycemia? Retrieved from                 http://www.visionaware.org/info/your-eye-condition/diabetic-retinopathy/hyperglycemia-and-hypoglycemia/125