O MeA e tAtAU OnA e IlOA - Australian Diabetes Council

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Short term complications – high blood
glucose (sugar) level (hyperglycaemia,
DKA, HONK/HHS, and sick days)
Hyperglycaemia or high blood glucose levels is when the blood glucose (sugar) levels are
much higher than recommended – above 15mmol/L.
Blood glucose levels go high because of:
• Eating too much carbohydrate
• Not taking enough insulin or oral diabetes medications
• Sickness or infection
• Emotional, physical or mental stress
• Certain tablets or medicines, (including cortisone or steroids)
• A problem with your blood glucose meter, strips or testing technique
• Lumps present at the injection site (if on insulin)
• Fingers not clean when testing your blood
• Testing too soon after eating. (Check your blood glucose two hours after the start of a
main meal).
Signs and Symptoms
You may feel:
• Tired
• Thirsty
• Pass urine more frequently
• Blurred vision
• Generally unwell.
If feeling unwell
• Test your blood glucose levels more often: at least every 2 – 4 hours
• Drink fluids and continue to eat normally if possible
• Treat the cause of the illness
• Tell someone and have them check on you.
Test for ketones if advised to do so by your doctor.
When do I need to call my doctor?
Contact your doctor for advice during illness if:
• You can’t eat normally
• You are not well enough to monitor your blood glucose levels
• Your blood glucose level is higher than 15 mmol/L for more than 12 hours
• Vomiting or diarrhoea continues for more than 12 hours
• You continue to feel unwell or become drowsy.
It is important to have a written sick day management plan prepared before you get
sick or unwell. Talk to your diabetes health care team to arrange this.
Ketone Testing and Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA)
Ketones are chemicals in the blood which are produced from the breakdown of fat. If the
body has no insulin present, glucose (sugar) can’t be used for energy. Therefore the body
makes ketones to provide a different source of energy. This may occur due to poor control of
diabetes, not enough insulin or missed insulin doses, illness or infection.
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