If you have type 1 diabetes, you have too much glucose in your blood. Treatment with insulin can keep your blood glucose at a normal level.

But it can be hard balancing how much insulin you take with how much food you eat. Even if you take insulin, you might have times when your blood glucose is too high. This is called hyperglycaemia.

See Checking your blood glucose to find out how you can keep an eye on your blood glucose level and avoid problems.

If your blood glucose is slightly raised from time to time, it's not usually a problem. You may need to adjust your dose of insulin or manage your diet better. If you often have slightly raised blood glucose levels, you'll need to talk to your doctor about adjusting your treatment.

But severe hyperglycaemia, where your blood sugar goes up very high, can be dangerous. This might happen if you miss a few doses of insulin: for example, if you're travelling and get confused about changing time zones. Or it might happen if you get an infection. Your body needs more insulin when you have an infection, even if you're not eating much.^[7]

Severe hyperglycaemia can cause a condition called ketoacidosis. This happens when there's plenty of glucose in your body, but your cells can't use it because you don't have enough insulin. The glucose can't get into your cells, so they don't get the energy they need.

When this happens, your body tries to get energy from your fat instead. To turn fat into energy, your body makes chemicals called ketones. Ketones in your blood can be harmful. Your body tries to flush them out in your urine. You'll usually need medical help to get your blood glucose back to normal.^[7]

These are the early symptoms of ketoacidosis:^[8]

• Feeling very thirsty

• Needing to urinate very often.

These are more serious symptoms of ketoacidosis:^[8]

• Feeling sick or vomiting

• Pain in your abdomen

• Feeling dizzy or confused

• Getting low blood pressure

• Breathing heavily.

The ketones also make your breath smell fruity or sweet.

If you get any of these symptoms, it's best to get medical help. Your doctor may have already told you what to do. You may need to take a dose of short-acting insulin. But if you're not sure, call your doctor for help.^[7]

If you have more serious symptoms, call an ambulance or go to hospital . Serious symptoms of ketoacidosis are a medical emergency. If your symptoms aren't treated properly, you could lose consciousness. This can be life-threatening.^[7]

Glossary

blood pressure

Blood pressure is the amount of force that's exerted by your blood on to your blood vessels. You can think of it like the water pressure in your home: the more pressure you have, the faster and more forcefully the water flows out of the shower. Blood pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury (written as mm Hg). When your blood pressure is taken, the measurement is given as two numbers, for example 120/80 mm Hg. The first, higher, number is called the systolic pressure, and the second, lower, number is the diastolic pressure. The systolic number is the highest pressure that occurs while your heart is pushing blood into your arteries. The diastolic number is the lowest pressure that happens when your heart is relaxing and is not pushing your blood.

For more terms related to Diabetes, type 1

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