What Highs and Lows Feel Like

If you have diabetes, it’s key to keep tabs on your blood sugar level. Even if you test often, you should know your body’s warning signs when your blood glucose dips too low – which is hypoglycemia – or shoots up too high into hyperglycemia. These symptoms tell you to act quickly to get your blood glucose up or down to a healthy level again.

Hypoglycemia

What is hypoglycemia?

For people with diabetes, the usual gauge of low blood sugar is lower than 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). Your warning signs that it’s dipped might not be the same as someone else’s, though. That’s why it’s key to know what your body’s telling you. It helps to jot down your symptoms for future reference, too.

What causes hypoglycemia?

If you have type 1 diabetes or take insulin or other medications for type 2 diabetes, episodes of hypoglycemia can be common. They can be caused by several things, including:

Taking too much insulin
Taking the wrong type of insulin
Injecting insulin into a muscle instead of just under your skin
Not eating enough carbohydrates
Intense exercise without adjusting insulin intake
Not eating enough for the amount of exercise/activity you’re doing

What does hypoglycemia feel like?

While symptoms of low blood sugar can be different for different people, you may feel:

Tingly, anxious, or sweaty
Like your heartbeat is out of rhythm
Edgy or nervous
Confused or “out of it”
Dizzy
Hungry
Sick to your stomach
Sleepy
Drained of energy
Like your lips, tongue, or cheeks are numb
Head pain
Clumsy or awkward

What to do when your blood sugar is too low

If you think your blood sugar’s low, check it. If it’s between 55 and 69 mg/dL, do the 15-15 rule. Take in 15 grams of carbs. This could be a half cup of juice, a tablespoon of sugar or honey, or 3 to 4 glucose tablets. Wait 15 minutes, then check your levels again. Repeat these steps until your blood sugar reaches a healthy range. Once you’re in the clear, eat a healthy meal.

A number below 55 flags a medical emergency. Your best response is to have a glucagon injection. If your symptoms are severe, you might need help from someone who’s trained to give it. Then have them call your doctor immediately.

Hyperglycemia

What is hyperglycemia?

It means your blood sugar is too high. Your body doesn’t have enough insulin to keep your blood sugar in check or doesn’t use the insulin it has well enough. It’s usually measured as anything above 180 to 200 mg/dL.

What causes hyperglycemia?

Some of the common causes of high blood glucose levels include:

Not following your diabetes eating plan
Not being physically active
Not taking enough insulin or diabetes medication
Not taking diabetes medications correctly
Illness or infection
Stress
Certain medications, including steroids

What does hyperglycemia feel like?

Like hypoglycemia, the signs of high blood sugar can be different for different people. But you’re likely to feel:

More thirsty than usual
Like you need to pee more often
Tired
Head pain

If your blood sugar has been too high for too long, more serious side effects and feelings can start. Your breath may have a fruity taste. This means ketones, or toxic acids, have built up in your urine and blood. Your mouth may be dry. You may also feel:

Sick to your stomach
Weak
Confused
Belly pain
Like you can’t catch your breath

What to do when your blood sugar is too high

Getting some exercise, such as a walk at a moderate pace, can help bring your blood glucose levels back to a normal range. It’s key to test your blood sugar first, though. If it’s above 240 mg/dL, check your ketone level. If you have ketones, don’t exercise. It can make your blood sugar shoot up even higher.

If you feel the more serious side effects, you could be in a state called diabetic ketoacidosis, or close to it. This condition can be fatal. Test your urine for ketones. If the test shows them at any level, you’ll need to go to the hospital for treatment.

Hypoglycemia

Hyperglycemia

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