Diabetes question! Please help and answer!?

Question

I would like to know a few things about diabetes. What happens when you have high blood sugar? I think they are suppose to inject insulin into themselves but what are the things that happen when they have high blood sugar? Light headed or something? And when they have low blood sugar? Please help! Its not for any project I was just curious because this guy at my school has diabetes and I was just wondering. And I didn't want to ask him because I thought it would be a little rude to ask him about the disease he has to deal with every day. So please help! Thanks!

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

There are two main types of diabetes. Type 1 is usually discovered in childhood and Type 2 is typical of adults. The disease does cause blood sugar to be higher than the body can handle. Therefore, medication, including both pills and insulin injections, is used to lower the blood sugar.

High blood sugar may not have any symptoms at all. Many people just feel sluggish and tired. The danger is sometimes irreversible when the sugar level is not reduced. That can damage the kidneys and liver, as well as the heart.

Low blood sugar usually is felt as a light-headed feeling. Hands may become shaky, the person may break out in a cold sweat and become confused or even incoherent. If not treated, the person may pass out and even go into a coma which may result in death.

Most diabetics should carry some sort of glucose with them to raise their sugars if they crash. This can be purchased at the drug or grocery store in tablet form, but even a candy bar can help. The quickest way to raise blood sugar is to give the person a regular soda or glass of orange juice to drink.

There is more information available at the website of the American Diabetes Association, or webmd.com. Don't worry about asking your friend about his diabetes. He may be glad to talk about it with someone who truly cares.

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

thanks! and, yeah, you're right, i bet he would not mind if i asked him. he is very sweet:D

Answer 2

Whell basicly when youre sugar levels are high you feel grumpy , tired and thirsty..i am a diabetic and it happens to me all the time!
And when youre low you start to shake an feel realy hungary an then you need to take somthing sugary!!

Hope that helps you!

Answer 3

think of the side effects of high and low blood sugar as an apple low blood sugar being the inside of the apple-pale,diupheuretic(sweaty) also weakness and high blood sugar the outside hot,flushed

Answer 4

High blood sugar symptoms (hyperglycemia):
tired

increase in urination/sugar in urine(though you wouldn't know this one only he would and his doctor if his urine is tested)

increase in thirst, do you see him drinking more water than usual?

weight loss, has he lost too much weight too fast?

worsening vision, has he crashed into anything? can he see the white board at school? Has he complained of not being able to see? does he wear glasses?

moodiness

trouble concentrating

muscle cramps

numbness or tingling in the hands and feet (has he been walking on a broken or twisted ankle and not noticed any pain?)

yeast infection (in women so he wouldn't have one)

ketoacidosis (depending on the type of diabetes) this causes high levels of acids and ketones in the blood due to excessive weight loss. the body resorts to burning fat for energy since in diabetics their is not enough insulin to take up the carbs for energy.

Often there are no symptoms at all.

early signs of ketoacidosis
very tired and sleepy
weakness
great thirst
frequent urination
dry skin and tongue
leg cramps
fruity odor to the breath*
upset stomach*
nausea*

late signs of ketoacidosis
vomiting*
shortness of breath
sunken eyeballs
very high blood sugars
rapid pulse
rapid breathing
low blood pressure
unresponsiveness, coma
PEOPLE WITH TYPE 1 GET KETOACIDOSIS. THOSE WITH TYPE 2 MAY GET IT BUT THEY DON'T COMMONLY GET IT



people with type one diabetes inject themselves with insulin to lower blood sugar those with type two have to eat healthy, exercise, lose weight, and occasionally take oral medication like the met forman pills.


symptoms of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) are:
hunger
shakiness
nervousness
sweating
dizziness or light headedness
sleepiness
confusion
difficulty speaking
anxiety
weakness

Answer 5

Diabetes Mellitus is not always easy to understand. First we must know that all food in the body is converted to sugar. That sugar in the body is called glucose (dextrose). Glucose is a simple sugar called a saccaride. Glucose belongs in the cells, it does not belong in the bloodstream. To get from the bloodstream to the cells, insulin is needed. Insulin is released from the pancreas and "pushes" the glucose from the bloodstream into the cells. This is how our cells are feed. There are two types of Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetes I is an autoimmune disease in which the body turns against itself. The pancreas stops producing insulin; therefore, glucose remains in the bloodstream eventhough the body cells are simultaneously starving for glucose. The person must inject insulin periodically to assist the cells in taking up the needed glucose from the blood; therefore this type of diabetes is called insulin-independent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). The insulin must be injected; it cannot be taken orally becasue insulin is a protein that would be digested.

Diabetes Mellitus II is insulin resisitant, which means adipose cells (fat cells) block the normal cells and give insulin a very difficult time "pushing glucose in to the cells." This is true for 80% of all cases. Insulin is in the blood in normal or high amounts, but it does not move the glucose into the cells. As in IDDM, blood glucose rises too high. This type of diabetes is referred to as non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). If blood glucose cannot be controlled by diet alone, people with Diabetes II may take insulin or insulin-inducing agents to supplement the body's insulin. But don't be fooled, eating sugar does not cause either type of diabetes.

When someone has "low blood sugar" it means the glucose is not in the cells. This happens when the person does not eat and glucose is not present.. The person becomes weak, fatigued, dizzy, etc, and can pass out. This person needs to eat. "High blood sugar" means there is too much glucose in the bloodsteam and it cannot get into the cells. This person must take insulin.

Source(s):

Jama

Answer 6

Nick Jonas has diabetes