Last update:
High blood sugar levels can cause nerve damage, called diabetic neuropathy.
Blood sugar is the main source of energy for the human body. Also known as blood glucose, blood sugar comes from foods consumed by humans. Upon entering the digestion process, it is broken down into glucose and released into the bloodstream in the form of ATP. However, excess or deficiency of blood sugar in the bloodstream causes high or low blood sugar levels. They are known as hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia. Both are quite worrying for the person's health.
The change in blood sugar levels can be caused by several factors: extreme stress, dehydration, eating too much sugar or drinking caffeine, lack of sleep, being physically inactive, or skipping medications prescribed by your doctor.
According to a Healthline report, there are multiple complications from high blood sugar, such as nerve damage, called diabetic neuropathy, which affects sensations in the feet and hands, damage to the blood vessels in the eyes, called diabetic retinopathy. , which affects vision, and increases the risk of kidney and heart problems.
According to a report published in the Cleveland Clinic, low blood sugar can lead to serious complications such as unconsciousness, seizures, coma, death, permanent brain damage, multiple organ failure, cardiac arrest, headaches, dizziness, lightheadedness, tingling lips and many more. others.
Therefore, it is clear that routine check-ups with a doctor and taking the appropriate medication are extremely important if you notice any alterations in your blood sugar levels. But what happens if there are fluctuations in blood sugar levels? Here, we have looked at the fastest ways to lower blood sugar levels in emergency situations.
- Take rapid-acting insulinDuring extreme emergency situations, these injections should be given immediately after or before a meal. According to an NHS report, some examples of rapid-acting insulins are insulin aspart (Fiasp, NovoRapid, Trurapi), insulin glulisine (Apidra) and insulin lispro (Admelog, Humalog, Lyumjev). But it is highly recommended to consult a doctor.
- Increase insulin dose.By consulting your doctor, you can modify your insulin dose if your blood sugar levels remain persistently high. Multiple medical reports suggest that if the body is not provided with the proper amount of medicine according to the changes in blood sugar levels, the efficiency may be zero.
- Drink water or eat a protein snack.According to Healthline, if you have difficulty breathing, nausea and vomiting, or a dry mouth and are thirstier than ever, you can drink water or eat a protein-rich snack. This can quickly lower blood sugar levels by causing an energy deficiency in the body.
- Take a brisk walk and exercise.Lack of physical activity manages blood sugar levels in the body. So taking a brisk walk or exercising for a couple of minutes can lower blood sugar for 24 hours or more, according to Healthline. Physical activity will help the body demand more glucose for energy. And the cells will deliver more intake or restored glucose to the muscles, which will reduce blood sugar levels.
- Drink ORS or eat sweets. Our muscles use glucose for energy, so if you experience a drop in blood sugar levels, you must provide the same amount of glucose to the body. Drinking ORS, a mixture of glucose, sodium chloride, potassium chloride and sodium citrate dissolved in water, can help slightly increase blood sugar levels. You can also eat something sweet, eat vegetables rich in magnesium and even add vinegar to your diet to get effective results.