This article provides information to help you understand the signs of
experiencing a hyper, as well as some ideas for how you can try to
prevent your blood glucose levels from getting above your optimal
range.
The most common symptoms of experiencing a hyper include:
- tiredness
- passing more urine than usual (peeing
more)
- being very thirsty
- blurred vision
- headaches
- feeling flushed
You may experience one or more of these symptoms when your blood
glucose levels are high, or a family member or friend might mention
that you do not quite seem your usual self.
It may take a few days or weeks for the symptom(s) to develop while
some people may not show any symptoms despite elevated blood glucose
levels, specifically those who have had diabetes for a longer period.
As very high blood glucose levels can lead to serious complications,
it is therefore very important to regularly check your blood glucose
at home.
What to do if you experience a hyper
- Don’t panic
- It is normal for your blood glucose level
to go up and down in a day
- Never miss your insulin
injection(s)
- If you have unusually high blood glucose
readings or if you feel unwell, you should contact your nurse or
doctor immediately
- Test your blood or urine for ketones if
you have been instructed to do so by your nurse or doctor
Emergency situations
Contact your nurse or doctor or dial 112/999 if:
- You are vomiting and unable to hold down fluids
- You
have high blood glucose levels and ketones in your blood or
urine
What are ketones?
Normally, with the help of insulin as a ‘key’, the body uses glucose
from food to produce energy. When there is little or no insulin to
allow the conversion of the glucose from food into energy, the body
starts breaking down fat cells for energy. When this occurs, ‘ketones’
form in the blood and spill into the urine. These ketones can make you
ill and if left untreated eventually lead to ‘diabetic ketoacidosis’
or DKA, a potentially life threatening condition.
How do you test for ketones?
You can test for ketones in the blood or urine. Several products are
available for doing this - your nurse or doctor will advise you.
When should you test for ketones?
- If your blood glucose level is over 15 mmol/L
- When
you are ill / vomiting
- If you have taken extra insulin and
your glucose level does not come down
Ketone levels can be checked in two different ways - in blood or in urine.
Acknowledgements:
Novo Nordisk would like to thank the Diabetes Nurse Specialists and
dietician who were instrumental in developing this content
What should you do if the ketone test is positive?
- You will need additional insulin - call your nurse or doctor
if you need advice
- Ensure that you drink plenty of water or
unsweetened fluids
- Continue to test blood glucose levels
and ketones every 1-2 hours until ketone free
- Eat a small
amount of carbohydrate if possible
- Never stop taking your
insulin
Date of preparation: December 2022. IE22DI00181