After a diagnosis – If you’re diagnosed with diabetes, your doctor or health care provider may do other tests to distinguish between type 1 and type 2 diabetes — since the two conditions often require different treatments. Your health care provider will repeat the test A1C levels at least two times a year and when there are any changes in treatment.
What is too high for type 2 diabetes?
High Blood Glucose: Hyperglycemia – Hyperglycemia means that you have too much blood glucose. It happens when your blood glucose level is around 200 mg/dL or higher. Hyperglycemia can happen if you miss taking your diabetes medications, eat too much or do not get enough exercise. Sometimes, the medications you take for other problems cause high blood glucose. Symptoms of hyperglycemia include:
Being very thirsty Being very tired Having blurry vision Having to urinate often
If you have these symptoms, check your blood glucose right away. If it’s too high, follow these steps:
Check your blood glucose every four hours. If your level does not go down after two checks or your symptoms get worse, call a member of your diabetes team. Drink water or other sugar-free liquids, such as diet soda or Crystal Light. You may need to take an extra dose of insulin. Your diabetes educator talks with you more about this.
What is a good number for type 2 diabetes in the morning?
What should your blood sugar be when you wake up? Whenever possible, aim to keep your glucose levels in range between 70 and 130 mg/dL in the morning before you eat breakfast, and between 70 and 180 mg/dL at other times.
What is a good diabetic blood number?
Tests for type 1 and type 2 diabetes and prediabetes –
Glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test. This blood test, which doesn’t require not eating for a period of time (fasting), shows your average blood sugar level for the past 2 to 3 months. It measures the percentage of blood sugar attached to hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells. The higher your blood sugar levels, the more hemoglobin you’ll have with sugar attached. An A1C level of 6.5% or higher on two separate tests means that you have diabetes. An A1C between 5.7% and 6.4% means that you have prediabetes. Below 5.7% is considered normal. Random blood sugar test. A blood sample will be taken at a random time. No matter when you last ate, a blood sugar level of 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) — 11.1 millimoles per liter (mmol/L) — or higher suggests diabetes. Fasting blood sugar test. A blood sample will be taken after you haven’t eaten anything the night before (fast). A fasting blood sugar level less than 100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L) is normal. A fasting blood sugar level from 100 to 125 mg/dL (5.6 to 6.9 mmol/L) is considered prediabetes. If it’s 126 mg/dL (7 mmol/L) or higher on two separate tests, you have diabetes. Oral glucose tolerance test. For this test, you fast overnight. Then, the fasting blood sugar level is measured. Then you drink a sugary liquid, and blood sugar levels are tested regularly for the next two hours. A blood sugar level less than 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L) is normal. A reading of more than 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) after two hours means you have diabetes. A reading between 140 and 199 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L and 11.0 mmol/L) means you have prediabetes.
If your provider thinks you may have type 1 diabetes, they may test your urine to look for the presence of ketones. Ketones are a byproduct produced when muscle and fat are used for energy. Your provider will also probably run a test to see if you have the destructive immune system cells associated with type 1 diabetes called autoantibodies.
Is 7.9 blood sugar high?
What should my blood sugar level be? – When you’re first diagnosed with diabetes, your diabetes care team will usually tell you what your blood sugar level is and what you should aim to get it down to. You may be advised to use a testing device to monitor your blood sugar level regularly at home, or you may have an appointment with a nurse or doctor every few months to see what your level is.
if you monitor yourself at home – a normal target is 4-7mmol/l before eating and under 8.5-9mmol/l two hours after a meal if you’re tested every few months – a normal target is below 48mmol/mol (or 6.5% on the older measurement scale)
How many times a day should you check your blood sugar Type 2?
Treatment – At first, the goal of treatment is to lower your high blood glucose level. Long-term goals are to prevent complications. These are health problems that can result from having diabetes. The most important way to treat and manage type 2 diabetes is by being active and eating healthy foods.
- Everyone with diabetes should receive proper education and support about the best ways to manage their diabetes.
- Ask your provider about seeing a certified diabetes care and education specialist and a dietitian.
- LEARN THESE SKILLS Learning diabetes management skills will help you live well with diabetes.
These skills help prevent health problems and the need for medical care. Skills include:
How to test and record your blood glucoseWhat, when, and how much to eatHow to safely increase your activity and control your weightHow to take medicines, if neededHow to recognize and treat low and high blood sugarHow to handle sick daysWhere to buy diabetes supplies and how to store them
It may take several months to learn these skills. Keep learning about diabetes, its complications, and how to control and live well with the disease. Stay up-to-date on new research and treatments. Make sure you are getting information from trustworthy sources, such as your provider and diabetes educator.
- MANAGING YOUR BLOOD SUGAR Checking your blood sugar level yourself and writing down the results tells you how well you are managing your diabetes.
- Talk to your provider and diabetes educator about how often to check.
- To check your blood sugar level, you use a device called a glucose meter.
- Usually, you prick your finger with a small needle, called a lancet.
This gives you a tiny drop of blood. You place the blood on a test strip and put the strip into the meter. The meter gives you a reading that tells you the level of your blood sugar. Your provider or diabetes educator will help set up a testing schedule for you.
Most people with type 2 diabetes only need to check their blood sugar once or twice a day.If your blood sugar level is under control, you may only need to check it a few times a week.You may test yourself when you wake up, before meals, and at bedtime.You may need to test more often when you are sick or under stress.You may need to test more often if you are having more frequent low blood sugar symptoms.
Keep a record of your blood sugar for yourself and your provider. Based on your numbers, you may need to make changes to your meals, activity, or medicines to keep your blood sugar level in the right range. Always bring your blood glucose meter to medical appointments so the data can be downloaded and discussed.
You are using insulin injections many times a dayYou have had an episode of severe low blood sugarYour blood sugar level varies a lot
The CGM has a sensor that is inserted just under the skin to measure glucose in your tissue fluid every 5 minutes. HEALTHY EATING AND WEIGHT CONTROL Work closely with your health care providers to learn how much fat, protein, and carbohydrates you need in your diet.
Your meal plans should fit your lifestyle and habits and should include foods that you like. Managing your weight and having a well-balanced diet are important. Some people with type 2 diabetes can stop taking medicines after losing weight. This does not mean that their diabetes is cured. They still have diabetes.
Obese people whose diabetes is not well managed with diet and medicine may consider weight loss (bariatric) surgery. REGULAR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY Regular activity is important for everyone. It is even more important when you have diabetes. Exercise is good for your health because it:
Lowers your blood sugar level without medicineBurns extra calories and fat to help manage your weightImproves blood flow and blood pressureIncreases your energy levelImproves your ability to handle stress
Talk to your provider before starting any exercise program. People with type 2 diabetes may need to take special steps before, during, and after physical activity or exercise, including adjusting doses of insulin if needed. MEDICINES TO TREAT DIABETES If diet and exercise do not help keep your blood sugar at normal or near-normal levels, your provider may prescribe medicine. Since these drugs help lower your blood sugar level in different ways, your provider may have you take more than one drug. Some of the most common types of medicines are listed below. They are taken by mouth or injection.
Alpha-glucosidase inhibitorsBiguanidesBile acid sequestrantsDPP-4 inhibitorsInjectable medicines (GLP-1 analogs)MeglitinidesSGLT2 inhibitorsSulfonylureasThiazolidinediones
You may need to take insulin if your blood sugar cannot be controlled with some of the above medicines. Most commonly, insulin is injected under the skin using a syringe, insulin pen, or pump. Another form of insulin is the inhaled type. Insulin cannot be taken by mouth because the acid in the stomach destroys the insulin.
Eye diseaseKidney diseaseHeart disease and stroke
FOOT CARE People with diabetes are more likely than those without diabetes to have foot problems. Diabetes damages the nerves. This can make your feet less able to feel pressure, pain, heat, or cold. You may not notice a foot injury until you have severe damage to the skin and tissue below, or you get a severe infection.
Stop smoking if you smoke.Improve control of your blood sugar.Get a foot exam by your provider at least twice a year to learn if you have nerve damage.Ask your provider to check your feet for problems such as calluses, bunions or hammertoes. These need to be treated to prevent skin breakdown and ulcers.Check and care for your feet every day. This is very important when you already have nerve or blood vessel damage or foot problems.Treat minor infections, such as athlete’s foot, right away.Use moisturizing lotion on dry skin.Make sure you wear the right kind of shoes. Ask your provider what type of shoe is right for you.
EMOTIONAL HEALTH Living with diabetes can be stressful. You may feel overwhelmed by everything you need to do to manage your diabetes. But taking care of your emotional health is just as important as your physical health. Ways to relieve stress include:
Listening to relaxing musicMeditating to take your mind off your worriesDeep breathing to help relieve physical tensionDoing yoga, tai chi, or progressive relaxation
Feeling sad or down (depressed) or anxious sometimes is normal. But if you have these feelings often and they’re getting in the way of managing your diabetes, talk with your health care team. They can find ways to help you feel better. People with diabetes should make sure to keep up on their vaccination schedule.
How high should a type 2 diabetes blood sugar be?
What are blood sugar targets? – A blood sugar target is the range you try to reach as much as possible. These are typical targets:
Before a meal: 80 to 130 mg/dL. Two hours after the start of a meal: Less than 180 mg/dL.
Your blood sugar targets may be different depending on your age, any additional health problems you have, and other factors. Be sure to talk to your health care team about which targets are best for you.
Is 17 a high blood sugar level?
Mild high blood sugar If your blood sugar levels are consistently higher than your target range (usually 11 mmol/L to 20 mmol/L, and 11 mmol/L to 14 mmol/L in children), you may have mild symptoms of high blood sugar.
Is blood sugar level 14 high?
Over the long term, hyperglycemia can cause complications. Hyperglycemia is defined as blood glucose (sugar) levels that are higher than the target values for the majority of people with diabetes:
- above 7 mmol/L, fasting or before a meal
- above 10 mmol/L, two hours after the begining of a meal
Hyperglycemia occurs when the amount of insulin in the blood is insufficient or ineffective. When glucose circulating in the blood cannot enter the cells because of a lack of insulin, it accumulates in the blood and raises a person’s glycemia (blood glucose levels),