Get your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM BlogQuestions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction

What To Do For Elevated Sugar Level Due To Diabetics?

My sister has diabetes and an elevated sugar level of 23. She has had an eye infection. She also has developed light sensitivity and can t drive at night. She is 63 and is taking the highest dosage of medicine available in the UK. She also has high blood pressure. i am worried about her....that is why I went to WebMD
Mon, 13 Oct 2014
Report Abuse
Internal Medicine Specialist,  's  Response
Hello,
important information is lacking about her situation but I'll try to give you the best answer I can.
23mmol/l is very high either as a fasting or postprandial blood glucose level and suggests inadequate treatment and/or patient compliance.
Is she overweight? Is she committed to a healthy diet? Does she take any other drugs (like steroids - which cause blood sugar elevation)? Since you mentioned the 'highest dosage of medicine' I suppose she's type 2. You haven't mentioned her glycosylated hemoglobin levels (HbA1c). I guess they should be sky high (>10%).
The best treatment for diabetes consists of three elements:
- healthy diet: avoid fatty foods and sweets (just a general direction - please inquire for more details if you'd like)
- daily exercise: walking is enough for her. Thirty minutes of fast walking every day unless contraindicated for other medical reasons.
- appropriate treatment regimen: if her HbA1c is indeed sky high I doubt she could carry on with the pills alone. Patients that have high HbA1c can only reach the target (I could not provide specific details about insulin regimens without having a complete picture of her medical history.
Also please note that diabetic patients can be harmed more by a high blood pressure than a high blood glucose. She needs tight control of her blood pressure which can be achieved by reduced salt intake, a healthy body weight and exercise - you see, this is all about leading a healthy lifestyle.
Keep in mind that 'better drugs' cannot make up for unhealthy eating habits.
I hope I've shed some light on her situation.
If you have further queries, I'll be glad to answer.
Kind Regards!
I find this answer helpful
Note: For further follow-up, discuss your blood glucose reports with our diabetologist. Click here.
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer. For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service [Sample answer]
Share on
 
Loading Online Doctors....
What To Do For Elevated Sugar Level Due To Diabetics?

Hello, important information is lacking about her situation but I ll try to give you the best answer I can. 23mmol/l is very high either as a fasting or postprandial blood glucose level and suggests inadequate treatment and/or patient compliance. Is she overweight? Is she committed to a healthy diet? Does she take any other drugs (like steroids - which cause blood sugar elevation)? Since you mentioned the highest dosage of medicine I suppose she s type 2. You haven t mentioned her glycosylated hemoglobin levels (HbA1c). I guess they should be sky high ( 10%). The best treatment for diabetes consists of three elements: - healthy diet: avoid fatty foods and sweets (just a general direction - please inquire for more details if you d like) - daily exercise: walking is enough for her. Thirty minutes of fast walking every day unless contraindicated for other medical reasons. - appropriate treatment regimen: if her HbA1c is indeed sky high I doubt she could carry on with the pills alone. Patients that have high HbA1c can only reach the target (I could not provide specific details about insulin regimens without having a complete picture of her medical history. Also please note that diabetic patients can be harmed more by a high blood pressure than a high blood glucose. She needs tight control of her blood pressure which can be achieved by reduced salt intake, a healthy body weight and exercise - you see, this is all about leading a healthy lifestyle. Keep in mind that better drugs cannot make up for unhealthy eating habits. I hope I ve shed some light on her situation. If you have further queries, I ll be glad to answer. Kind Regards!