Diabetes – Hyperglycaemia Information

What is type 1 diabetes? — Type 1 diabetes (sometimes called type 1 "diabetes mellitus") is a disorder that disrupts the way your body uses sugar.

All the cells in your body need sugar to work normally. Sugar gets into cells with the help of a hormone called insulin. If there is not enough insulin, or if the body stops responding to insulin, sugar builds up in the blood. That is what happens to people with diabetes.

There are 2 types of diabetes. People with type 1 diabetes make little or no insulin. People with type 2 diabetes sometimes also make too little insulin, but more often the problem is that their cells do not respond to insulin.

What are the symptoms of type 1 diabetes? — The symptoms include:

• Intense thirst
• Being very tired
• Urinating often
• Losing weight
• Blurred vision

In extreme cases, type 1 diabetes can also cause nausea or vomiting, belly pain, and panting.

How do I know if I have type 1 diabetes? — Your doctor or nurse can do a blood test to measure the amount of sugar in your blood. The test will show whether you have diabetes. If you do, your doctor or nurse can then decide whether it is type 1 or type 2 – based on your age, your weight, and other factors.

How is type 1 diabetes treated? — Treatment for type 1 diabetes involves 2 key parts:

• Measuring your blood sugar often, to make sure it does not get too high or too low. (Your doctor or nurse will explain how to measure your blood sugar, and how often to do it.)
• Using insulin shots or an insulin pump to keep your blood sugar levels in the right range. (An insulin pump is a device that you wear close to your body. It is connected to tube that goes under your skin and supplies insulin.)

People with type 1 diabetes also need to carefully plan their meals and activity levels. That's because eating raises blood sugar, while being active lowers it. Despite the need to plan, people with diabetes can have normal diets, be active, eat out, and do all the things that most other people do.

How often do I need to see my doctor or nurse? — You will probably need to see your doctor or nurse at least 3 or 4 times a year. Sometimes you will need more visits to learn how to manage your diabetes or if your blood sugar is not well controlled.

During your visits, your doctor or nurse will want to measure your blood sugar using a test called "A1C." This test tells you your average blood sugar level over the last few months. Its results will help your doctor or nurse decide whether to adjust your treatment.

During some of your visits, your doctor or nurse will also check other aspects of your health. For instance, he or she might measure your blood pressure or cholesterol. It is very important that you keep all your appointments with your doctor or nurse.

Why is it important to keep my blood sugar close to normal? — Having high blood sugar can cause serious problems over time. It can lead to:

• Nerve damage
• Kidney disease
• Vision problems (or even blindness)
• Pain or loss of feeling in the hands and feet
• The need to have fingers, toes, or other body parts removed (amputated)
• Heart disease and strokes

Having low blood sugar can cause problems, too. It can make your heart beat fast, and make you shake and sweat. If blood sugar gets really low, it can cause more serious problems, too. People with very low blood sugar can get headaches, get very sleepy, pass out, or even have seizures.

Why is it important to keep my blood pressure and cholesterol low? — People with diabetes have a much higher risk of heart disease and strokes than people who do not have diabetes. Keeping blood pressure and cholesterol low can help lower those risks.

If your doctor or nurse puts you on blood pressure or cholesterol medicines, be sure to take them. Studies show that these medicines can prevent heart attacks, strokes, and even death.

What if I want to get pregnant? — Many women with type 1 diabetes have healthy pregnancies. If you want to have a baby, make sure you control your blood sugar really well before and during pregnancy. This will protect you and your baby from problems.

What is type 2 diabetes? — Type 2 diabetes (sometimes called type 2 "diabetes mellitus") is a disorder that disrupts the way your body uses sugar.

All the cells in your body need sugar to work normally. Sugar gets into the cells with the help of a hormone called insulin. If there is not enough insulin, or if the body stops responding to insulin, sugar builds up in the blood. That is what happens to people with diabetes.

There are 2 different types of diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the problem is that the body makes little or no insulin. In type 2 diabetes, the problem is that:

• The body's cells do not respond to insulin
• The body does not make enough insulin
• Or both

What are the symptoms of type 2 diabetes? — Type 2 diabetes usually causes no symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they include:

• Needing to urinate often
• Intense thirst
• Blurry vision

If type 2 diabetes rarely causes symptoms, why should I care about it? — Even though type 2 diabetes might not make you feel sick, it can cause serious problems over time, if it is not treated. The disorder can lead to:

• Heart attacks
• Strokes
• Kidney disease
• Vision problems (or even blindness)
• Pain or loss of feeling in the hands and feet
• The need to have fingers, toes, or other body parts removed (amputated)

How do I know if I have type 2 diabetes? — To find out if you have type 2 diabetes, your doctor or nurse can do a blood test to measure the amount of sugar in your blood.

How is type 2 diabetes treated? — There are a few medicines that help control blood sugar. Some people need to take pills that help the body make more insulin or that help insulin do its job. Others need insulin shots.

Sometimes, people with type 2 diabetes also need medicines to reduce the problems caused by the disease. For instance, medicines used to lower blood pressure can reduce the chances of a heart attack or stroke.

Medicines are not the only tool to manage diabetes. Being active, losing weight, eating right, and not smoking can all help people with diabetes stay as healthy as possible.

Can type 2 diabetes be prevented? — Yes, it can. To reduce your chances of getting type 2 diabetes, the most important thing you can do is control your weight. If you already have the disorder, losing weight can improve your health and blood sugar control. Being active can also help prevent or control the disorder.

Lower Blood Sugar – Hyperglycaemia

What is low blood sugar? — Low blood sugar is a condition that can cause symptoms ranging from sweating and feeling hungry to passing out. Low blood sugar, which is also called "hypoglycemia," happens when the level of sugar in a person's blood gets too low.

Low blood sugar can happen in people with diabetes (sometimes called "diabetes mellitus") who take certain diabetes medicines, including insulin and some types of pills.

When can people with diabetes get low blood sugar? — People with diabetes can get low blood sugar when they:

• Take too much medicine, including insulin or certain diabetes pills
• Do not eat enough food
• Exercise too much without eating a snack or reducing their insulin dose
• Wait too long between meals
• Drink too much alcohol

What are the symptoms of low blood sugar? — The symptoms of low blood sugar can be different from person to person, and can change over time. During the early stages of low blood sugar, a person can:

• Sweat or tremble
• Feel hungry
• Feel worried

People who have early symptoms should check their blood sugar level to see if it is low and needs to be treated. If low blood sugar levels are not treated, severe symptoms can occur. These can include:

• Trouble walking or feeling weak
• Trouble seeing clearly
• Being confused or acting in a strange way
• Passing out or having a seizure

Some people do not get symptoms during the early stages of low blood sugar. Doctors call this "hypoglycaemia unawareness." People with hypoglycaemia unawareness are more likely to have severe symptoms, because they might not know that they have low blood sugar until they have severe symptoms. Hypoglycaemia unawareness often occurs in people who:

• Have had type 1 diabetes for more than 5 to 10 years
• Use insulin to keep their blood sugar level under tight control
• Are tired
• Drink a lot of alcohol
• Take certain medicines for high blood pressure or diabetes

How is low blood sugar treated? — Low blood sugar can be treated with:

• Quick sources of sugar – People can treat low blood sugar by eating or drinking quick sources of sugar. Foods that have fat, such as chocolate or cheese, do not treat low blood sugar as quickly. You and a family member should carry a quick source of sugar at all times.
• A "glucagon" shot – Glucagon is a hormone that can quickly raise blood sugar levels and stop severe symptoms. It comes in the form of a shot. If your doctor recommends that you carry a glucagon shot with you, he or she will tell you when and how to use it. Family members should also learn how to give a glucagon shot. That way a family member can give it to you if you can't do it yourself.

What should I do after treatment? — After treatment for low blood sugar, most people can get back to their usual routine. But your doctor or nurse might recommend that you check your blood sugar level more often during the next 2 to 3 days.

If your low blood sugar was treated with a glucagon shot, call your doctor or nurse. He or she might change the dose of your diabetes medicine.

How can I prevent low blood sugar? — The best way to prevent low blood sugar is to:

• Check your blood sugar levels often – Your doctor or nurse will tell you how and when to check your blood sugar levels at home. He or she will also tell you what your blood sugar levels should be, and when to treat low blood sugar.
• Learn the symptoms of low blood sugar and be ready to treat it in the early stages. Treating low blood sugar early can prevent severe symptoms.

When should I go to a hospital or call for an ambulance? — A family member or friend should take you to a hospital or call for an ambulance (in the US and Canada, dial 9-1-1) if you:

• Are still confused 15 minutes after being treated with a glucagon shot
• Have passed out and there is no glucagon shot nearby
• Still have low blood sugar after treatment

If you have low blood sugar, do not try to drive yourself to the hospital. Driving with low blood sugar can be dangerous.