Hyperglycemia and Hypoglycemia

Hyperglycemia and

Hypoglycemia

Signs and Symptoms

Created 2020 | Rev. 6/2024 © Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Patient and Family Education

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is an independent organization that also serves as UW Medicine’s cancer program.

This handout explains hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar),

common symptoms, how to manage the conditions, and when to get help.

Hyperglycemia

What is hyperglycemia?

Hyperglycemia means high blood sugar (glucose). Hyperglycemia typically happens when there

is not enough insulin in your body, or your body is not able to use the insulin available. Insulin is

a hormone made by your pancreas that regulates the blood sugar in your body. Over time and

left untreated, hyperglycemia can damage your organs, blood vessels, nerves, and tissues. It

also increases your risk for diabetes, heart attack, and stroke. High blood sugar is blood sugar of

180 mg/dl or higher before a meal.

What causes hyperglycemia?

• Eating certain foods, especially those high in carbohydrates like fried foods, sugar-

sweetened beverages, desserts, and sweets

• Too little insulin or forgetting to take insulin

• Illness or infection

• Doing less activity than usual

• Neuroendocrine tumors

• Certain medications such as steroids

• Having surgery or a medical condition such as diabetes

Common symptoms of hyperglycemia

• Thirst or dry mouth

• Blurred vision

• Dry warm skin

• Fatigue, feeling weak or tired

• Frequent urination (peeing)

How to manage hyperglycemia

• Stay active. Regular exercise can help keep your blood sugar in the desired range.

• Maintain a well-balanced diet.

• It is common to experience changes in your eating pattern because of your treatment

regimen. If you have questions about managing your diet, or managing your diet with

diabetes, ask for a consult with a Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center registered dietitian.

Hypoglycemia

What is hypoglycemia?

Hypoglycemia means low blood sugar (glucose). If hypoglycemia isn’t treated, you may

experience confusion, irritability, and slurred speech. In extreme cases, hypoglycemia can lead

to a coma or death. Low blood sugar is blood sugar of less than 70 mg/dl.

What causes hypoglycemia?

• Not eating enough food or eating no food

• Waiting too long before you eat

• Too much insulin

• Certain blood pressure medications

• Alcohol drinks

Common symptoms

• Intense hunger

• Shakiness or dizziness

• Headache or light-headed

• Difficulty speaking

• Feeling anxious or weak

• Cold, pale, moist skin

• Trouble seeing clearly; double or blurry

vision

How to manage hypoglycemia

• If you typically have low blood sugar, check your blood sugar often. Each person's reaction

to low blood sugar is different. Learn your own signs and symptoms of when your blood

sugar is low.

• Try to eat meals around the same time every day. Do not skip meals.

• If you experience any symptoms of hypoglycemia, you need to get sugar by mouth or

through an infusion in your vein to increase your blood sugar.

How to manage hypoglycemia, continued

o By mouth: If you are at home, eat or drink something with 15 grams of carbohydrate.

Check your blood sugar after 15 minutes. If it’s still below 70 mg/dl, have another

serving. Examples of 15 grams of carbohydrates include:

▪ 1/2 cup (4 ounces) of fruit juice or non-diet soda

▪ Glucose tablets (see instructions on package for recommended dose)

▪ 1 tablespoon of sugar, honey, or corn syrup

▪ Hard candies, jellybeans, or gumdrops.

o By infusion: If you are at a clinic or hospital, your care team may start you on an infusion

to increase your blood sugar.

• If your provider has prescribed a glucagon kit, teach your caregiver(s) how to use your

glucagon kit in case your caregiver can’t wake you up while your blood sugar is low.

When to get help

You or your caregiver should call 911 immediately if you:

• Are weak and confused

• Have trouble breathing

• Have shortness of breath

• Have a seizure

• Cannot be woken up

• Your blood sugar is higher than 600

mg/dl

• Your blood sugar is less than 70 mg/dl

and doesn’t improve after you eat or

drink something with carbohydrates

Call you care team or the after-hours clinic now if you:

• Have symptoms of low blood sugar that don’t improve after you eat or drink something

with carbohydrates

• Have signs of hyperglycemia

• Your blood sugar is regularly higher than 200 mg/dl for 2 days

• Your blood sugar is ever higher than 350 mg/dl, including at bedtime