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Many diabetes symptoms from high & low blood sugar can be similar, if not virtually the same, and mistaking one for the other could have tragic results.
Diabetes High Blood Sugar (Hyperglycemia)
If you are diabetic, many symptoms of high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) are similar to those caused by low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). It is important to frequently check blood glucose levels, using a glucose meter, especially if you or your loved one is experiencing some of the following symptoms:
- Hunger
- Headache
- Nausea
- Thirst
- Frequent urination
Mistaking high blood sugar for low, or vise versa, could have tragic results. For example, if you mistakenly think you or your loved one is suffering from low blood sugar and give them sweets, it could kill them. The same tragedy could also occur if you’re having a low blood sugar but mistakenly think your sugar is high and take more insulin.
The only way to know for sure is to test your sugar using a glucose meter.
If you have diabetes, you should also have a glucose meter and test strips with you at all times. These meters are pocket sized and inexpensive. You can get one at almost any drugstore. Your health insurance company will likely provide you one, and the strips you need to use it, for little to no charge.
Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia)
Again many diabetes symptoms from high and low blood sugar are virtually the same. It is important to frequently check blood glucose levels, especially if you or your loved one is experiencing some of the following symptoms:
- Shakiness
- Rapid heart rate
- Hot flash or sweating
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Hunger
- Headache
- Sleepiness
