4 Steps for Lowering High Blood Sugar Levels ASAP When You Have Diabetes

I spent my honeymoon trying to determine how to lower high blood sugar.  Not mine, my grandmother's.  A cousin came to the wedding with a stomach bug and delivered an unwanted gift to lots of wedding attendees, including my grandmother and the groom.  The honeymoon didn't happen, but we did make a few trips to urgent care.

My grandmother had been diabetic for as long as I could remember, but she made the six-hour trip to my wedding without her glucometer or her diabetes medications.  She became miserably sick and dehydrated from the stomach virus.  I went to the pharmacy and purchased a glucometer to check her blood sugar, which was off the charts.  She refused to go to the ER, so we went to urgent care instead.  I don't remember how high her blood glucose was, but I remember that the urgent care doc wanted her to go to the ER.  She declined.  We were sent home with enough diabetic medication to last her until she returned home, and I was worried about her safety.

What causes high blood sugar?

My grandma's blood sugar was elevated because she had a fever, an infection (the stomach bug), and because she was dehydrated.  People react differently to all kinds of stressors, but these are the things that generally cause high blood sugar in a person whose diabetes is normally in good control:

• Fever

• Infection

• Dehydration

• Stress

• High carbohydrate intake

• Skipping diabetes medication or insulin

• Taking steroid medications

Signs and symptoms of high blood sugar

You may feel one, some, or all of these things if your blood sugar is high — then again, some people don't feel anything:

• Headache

• Extreme thirst

• Extreme hunger

• Excessive urination

• Blurry vision

• Weight loss, in more severe and long-term cases

• Long-term:  recurring infection & cuts that won't heal

What blood sugar level is considered too high?

• If you have diabetes, the American Diabetes Association recommends that your post-meal blood sugar stays under 180.

• If your blood glucose reaches 200 mg/dL, take steps to bring it down.

• A blood glucose level of 250 mg/dL may require medical attention.

How to lower a high blood sugar level

You may be able to lower your blood sugar level at home by taking the steps below.  If you try these steps without success, seek the advice of a physician.

1. Drink 2-3 large glasses of water.  This will combat dehydration.  (Don't drink sugary beverages.)

2. Take a walk.  Walking for 30 minutes or more may help bring your blood sugar down.  (Don't exercise strenuously.)

3. Rest or meditate.  If stress is causing your blood sugar to increase, rest or meditation may help to lower your blood sugar.

4. Continue to take your diabetes medications or insulin as prescribed by your physician.

If you try the steps above and see no improvement (or worsening) in your blood sugar levels, call your physician for advice.

A lot of times, clients tell me that they feel guilty when their blood glucose levels are high.  If you look at the list of causes above, you can see that there are many reasons why your blood glucose level might be high that don't have anything to do with whether or not you eat "perfectly".  Besides, nobody's perfect.  So, give yourself a break.  If your blood sugar level is too high, take the steps you need to take to address it.  If you can't get it down on your own, call your doctor — their job is to help you figure out your next steps when you've already done what you can do on your own, and they want to help.

Action Steps: 

1. Think about your usual blood sugar levels.  Everyone is different.  Where is your "cut-off point"?  At what level do you need to take steps to lower your blood glucose?  At what blood glucose level do you need to call your physician?

2. Write those two numbers down: the level at which you'll try to lower your blood sugar, and the level at which you'll need to call your doctor.

3. Write down the number for your physician, the nearest urgent care, and 911.  Post the numbers in a convenient location or program them into your smartphone.  (I know you already know the number "911," but you'd be surprised how many people can't remember that number in a true emergency.)

4. Good! You're all set, just in case you have a high blood glucose emergency.

This article is intended as general information and is not intended as a substitute for your physician's advice.