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Treating High Blood Sugar

ID: AND13013
MEDICAL ANIMATION TRANSCRIPT: This video will teach you how to manage and treat high blood sugar. Please watch the entire video before treating your high blood sugar. After you eat food that contains carbohydrates, your body breaks it down into a sugar called glucose. Your body makes a hormone called insulin that helps you either use or store blood sugar. When you have diabetes, your body does not make enough insulin or cannot use the insulin it makes properly. This can cause you to have too much sugar in your blood, which is a condition called hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia can happen when you do not take enough insulin or diabetes medicine; take other medicines that increase blood sugar; eat more food or carbohydrates than you usually do; do not get enough exercise or physical activity; get sick, injured, or have surgery; have emotional stress, such as family or work problems; or have changes to hormone levels, such as during menstrual periods. If you have hyperglycemia or your blood sugar is too high, you may feel very thirsty and have to urinate a lot. You may also feel very tired and notice your vision is blurry. If you do not treat hyperglycemia, your blood sugar may build up to a dangerously high level, requiring you to seek immediate emergency care. The first step to understanding how to treat high blood sugar is knowing your normal blood sugar target range. If you feel or notice symptoms of hyperglycemia, be sure to check your blood sugar level right away. If your blood sugar is above your target range make sure you drink plenty of water or other sugar free liquids to stay hydrated. Take your insulin or diabetes medication the way your health care provider says you should. Do not take extra medication without first checking with your health care provider. Check your blood sugar every four hours. Follow your normal meal plan and increase your physical activity or exercise if you can. Do not exercise if your blood sugar is above 240. Exercise may make your blood sugar level go even higher. Contact your health care provider if your blood sugar stays above your target range or you notice the following symptoms that may need immediate treatment-- shortness of breath, breath that smells fruity, or your mouth feels very dry. You can help prevent hyperglycemia by regularly checking your blood sugar, following your normal meal plan, taking your diabetes medication as prescribed by your doctor, controlling stress, and exercising regularly.

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