Blood Sugar

KNOW WHAT’S NORMAL

Whatever your role may be, as a caregiver it’s important to know the recommended
levels for blood sugar. Here are the typical normal levels:

BEFORE BREAKFAST	Normal blood sugar before breakfast should be *between 70 mg/dl and 100 mg/dl.*
AFTER ANY MEAL	After a meal, blood sugar should be *less than 180 mg/dl.*
DURING ACTIVITIES	During everyday activities, blood sugar should *range from 100 mg/dl to 140 mg/dl.*

Blood sugar should be tested four times per day, before every meal, and before bed time.
Even one missed test can lead to an emergency!

COMPARE HYPERGLYCEMIA TO HYPOGLYCEMIA

Hyperglycemia is high blood sugar. It is the major cause of complications among people with diabetes.

High blood sugar can occur when diabetics:

Get off schedule with medication,
Eat too much high sugar food
Feel stressed out
Suffer from an infection or illness.

Symptoms include:

Constant fatigue
Body aches
Dry or itchy skin
Dry mouth
Excessive thirst
Excessive hunger
Frequent urination
Blurred vision
Headaches

If the blood sugar is high . . . the client will feel DRY!

Hypoglycemia is the medical term for low blood sugar. It’s most common in people who use insulin. A sudden drop in blood sugar may be due to:

An illness or infection
Too much diabetes medication
Skipping meals or snacks
Getting more exercise than usual.

Symptoms include:

Weakness
Drowsiness
Hunger
Dizziness/Fainting
Pale skin color
Wet or clammy skin
Depressed mood
Irritability
Confusion
Rapid heart beat

If the blood sugar is low . . . the client will
feel WET and SLOW!