There are a variety of hyperglycemia treatments that diabetics can choose from when their blood sugar levels get too high. Modifying the amount of water or the types of foods being consumed can help decrease the amount of sugar in the bloodstream. Exercising is also known to reduce blood glucose levels. The patient's doctor may need to evaluate and modify the type or amount of medication he or she is taking. If the hyperglycemia is the result of an infection, it may be necessary to cure it before blood sugar can go back to normal.
One of the most important hyperglycemia treatments is eating a proper diet. Most diabetics are on a specific food regimen designed to help manage their condition. Varying from one's diet plan or eating too much may cause blood glucose levels to go up. If patients find that this has occurred, they should go back to their diets and see if this brings the levels down. In cases where this approach does not work, the patient should discuss it with his or her doctor to see if the diet needs to be modified or if another approach needs to be taken.
Drinking water can also help reduce high blood sugar. By drinking extra water, patients may be able to remove extra glucose from the body through urination. Hyperglycemia also tends to cause dehydration, so drinking more can help replace those lost fluids and keep the patient hydrated.
Another of the possible hyperglycemia treatments is exercise. Engaging in some moderate exercise can help bring down levels of glucose in the blood. Patients should use caution, however; if there are ketones present in their urine, or glucose levels are too high (240 mg/dL for type 1 diabetics and 300 mg/dL for type 2 diabetics), exercise can actually make the situation worse.
In some cases, correcting a patient's course of medications is the most appropriate of the possible hyperglycemia treatments. The amount of insulin or other medications being taken may not be correct to meet the patient's needs. The doctor may also choose to adjust the timing and frequency of the doses.
Consistent hyperglycemia can be the result of an underlying infection. Patients whose sugar levels stay high for several days should be evaluated by a doctor to see if they are ill and need treatment. It may be necessary for them to receive antibiotics or other medications to recover.