Overview

Your doctor will give you goals for your blood sugar and recommend ways to treat high blood sugar. Here are some general guidelines for treating it.

• Treat mild to moderate high blood sugar.

  Follow these steps if your blood sugar is over the target range set by your doctor. For two or more readings a few hours apart.

  • If you missed your usual dose of diabetes medicine, take the missed dose.
  • If your doctor prescribed a dose of fast-acting insulin based on the blood sugar level (sliding scale), give the appropriate dose. If not, call your doctor for advice.
  • Test for ketones, if your doctor has advised you to do so. Call your doctor if the results show a moderate-to-large amount of ketones.
  • Wait 30 minutes after giving the extra insulin or the missed medicine. Then check your blood sugar again.
  • Drink extra liquids to replace the fluids lost through the urine. Water and sugar-free drinks are best.
• Know when to take action.
  • If symptoms of high blood sugar become more noticeable or if your blood sugar level continues to rise, call your doctor.
  • If you start to feel drowsy or disoriented or if your blood sugar continues to rise, call 9-1-1 or other emergency services immediately. It's best to have someone with you if your blood sugar is this high so that the person can call for you.
• Recheck extremely high blood sugar.

  Follow these steps if your blood sugar is extremely high—for example, over 34.0 mmol/L. Some blood sugar meters read only levels up to about 22.0 mmol/L.

  • Wash and dry the finger carefully before checking again.
  • If the meter reads high, test the accuracy of the meter, and then recheck the blood sugar.
  • If the meter reads high again, call the doctor for advice or seek emergency care.

After a high blood sugar episode

After your blood sugar level has returned to a target range:

• Continue medicine as prescribed by your doctor.
• Check blood sugar levels as directed.
• Report the episode to your doctor.
• Drink extra liquids to replace the fluids lost through urine.
  • Water and sugar-free drinks are best.
  • Avoid caffeinated drinks and alcohol. Also avoid regular soda pop, fruit juice, and other liquids that contain a lot of sugar.